Westminster s Conservation Areas: At Risk? Westminster s Conservation Areas: At Risk? Westminster: Facts and figures. Westminster s Conservation Areas

Transcription

1 Westminster s Conservation Areas: At Risk? Westminster s Conservation Areas: At Risk? Robert Ayton and Mike Gray Development Planning Built Environment 1. Westminster Facts and figures 2. Westminster s CAAR Survey 3. Condition 4. Vulnerability 5. Case Study St James s Conservation Area 6. Conclusions Westminster: Facts and figures All Applications per year > 10,000 Applications for planning permission in 2009 = 3600 Applications for listed building consent in 2009 = 1800 Applications for conservation area consent 2009 = 50 Enforcement cases in 2009 > 2500 Westminster s Conservation Areas 55 conservation areas - 75 % of city 44 audits adopted so far 11,000 listed buildings 50,000 (?) unlisted buildings of merit Three Area Teams 12 + Urban Design and Conservation Officers per team Conservation Area Audit Team 2-3 Urban Design and Conservation Officers Planning Enforcement Team 18 Enforcement officers and inspectors Westminster s Conservation Areas Westminster s Conservation Areas 1

2 Westminster s Conservation Areas Conservation Area at Risk The survey response: Almost all are in fair or good condition Almost all have an adopted conservation area appraisal (audit) and management proposals No conservation areas at risk Conservation Area at Risk Hanway Street Conservation Area Condition Loss of historic detail Vacancies within buildings Severe dereliction of buildings Signs of a lack of care Condition of the public realm Other factors Churchill Gardens Conservation Area Land Owners The Great Estates: Grosvenor Estate Mayfair and Belgravia Crown Estate Regent Street Portman Estate West Marylebone Howard de Walden Estate - Marylebone Government Whitehall 2

3 The value of conservation areas The value of conservation areas The value of conservation areas Conservation Area at Risk Vulnerability Published Audit Management plans / proposals for preservation and enhancement Adopted LDF Community Support Local Amenity Societies Major development proposals Conservation Area Audits History Conservation Area Audits Land uses Character Streets and spaces Architecture Landmark buildings Views Townscape detail Shopfronts Railings and walls Street furniture Public art Hard and soft landscaping Negative features and enhancement Management Proposals 3

4 Unlisted buildings of merit Opportunities for roof extensions LDF Core Strategy LDF Core Strategy Westminster s Spatial Vision LDF Core Strategy Supplementary planning guidance 4

5 Supplementary planning guidance Supplementary planning guidance The Year of Design: Raising the bar Local Amenity Societies Major development proposals Bayswater Residents Association Belgravia Residents Association Covent Garden Community Association Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association Hyde Park Estate Association Knightsbridge Association Marylebone Association North Paddington Society Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society Queen's Park Estate Society Residents Society of Mayfair and St. James s St. John's Wood Society St. Marylebone Society Soho Society South East Bayswater Residents Association Thorney Island Society Westbourne Neighbourhood Association Westminster Society 5

6 Major development proposals St James s Conservation Area Doon Street Doon Street Elizabeth House St James s Conservation Area Summary of Recommendations 1. Improved policy planning basis 2. Preserving more existing good architecture 3. Better new architecture 4. Better facade designs 5. Appropriate retained and new uses 6

7 Summary of Recommendations 6. Improved management 7. Reduced traffic domination 8. Restored townscape character 9. Integrated project initiatives Recent Proposals in St James s Existing 5 St James s Square Recent Proposals in St James s Recent Proposals in St James s Proposed 5 St James s Square: Dixon Jones 7 St James s Square: Eric Parry Architects 7

8 Recent Proposals in St James s Recent Proposals in St James s 7 St James s Square: Eric Parry Architects French Railways House, Piccadilly : Make Street Improvement Proposals Street Improvement Proposals Conclusions How to avoid having conservation areas at risk: 1. Devote resources to design and conservation 2. Prioritise design related enforcement action 3. Develop strong links between Highways and Planning 4. Adopt all necessary policies, audits and supplementary planning guidance 5. Work with the local community, major landowners and other stakeholders 8