Westminster City Council Planning Policy Documents

Below are the summaries from the planning policy documents we refer to when making decisions regarding planning applications. Each comes with a link to the specific document:

Reasons to Object to a Planning Application: This guide contains many legitimate reasons for objecting to planning applications and also those reasons which are not valid...Read More

Conservatories: Conservatories have long been popular as lightweight additions to properties in Westminster. These guidelines have been prepared to encourage a high standard in their design and relationship with the existing property, and to set out the factors which the City Council will take into account when considering applications... Read More

Demolition and Development in Conservation Areas: This supplementary planning guidance deals with the City Council's planning policies with respect to demolition and development in conservation areas. These policies seek to achieve the preservation and enhancement of all conservation areas in the City. The policies are set out in the Unitary Development Plan...Read More

Estate Agent Boardwatch: This link provides a guide, from Westminster City Council, about the design and display of Estate Agents' boards to protect the visual amenity of neighbourhoods...Read More

Extensions and Alterations: This City Management Plan briefing note contains guidance about the issues affecting extensions and alterations in Westminster...Read More

Listed Buildings Advice: This advice on Listed Buildings explains what a listed building is, and what the procedures and regulations are regarding works on listed buildings. It offers guidance on repairs, grants and specialist advice...Read More

New Planning Guidelines: Read a summary, written by Councillor Robert Davis, for the St. John's Wood Society regarding the Government's consultation paper 'Improving Permitted Development' ...Read More

Party Wall Summary: The party wall act, which came into force in 1997, provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings...Read More

Planning Policy for the Historic Environment: This guide provides a full statement of Government policies for the identification and protection of historic buildings, conservation areas, and other elements of the historic environment...Read More

Repairs to Listed Buildings: This document is intended to help owners, occupiers and potential purchasers of listed buildings in Westminster, and their agents, to understand the system of listed building control, and the standards applied by the City Council...Read More

Roof Guide: Alterations and extensions are often necessary to modernise, adapt, enlarge or extend the life of a building. Roof extensions can be a practical way of creating extra floorspace, especially in the terraced houses which dominate large areas of the City. The City Council considers that roof alterations and extensions should be designed to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of buildings and areas in the City...Read More

Satellite Dishes: Recent years have seen a significant increase in the use and variety of telecommunications equipment. Much of this needs to be fixed to a building to work efficiently and, in many instances, this will require the permission of the City Council...Read More

St. John's Wood Conservation Audit Summary: St. John's Wood represents the first example of suburban residential development in Inner London and was first designated as a conservation area in 1967. Please find attached a general information leaflet, published by Westminster City Council, about the St. John's Wood conservation area...Read More