Press Release

Mayor publishes planning guidance to protect views of London's landmarks
15-7-2007   450

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has published Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) which details how important views of London landmarks should be protected and managed.

The planning guidance `London View Management Framework’ provides additional clarity and detail to those sections of the London Plan that deal with London’s designated strategic views. It confirms the precise details of 11 views that have been approved by Government for protection, including a brand new view of the Tower of London from the south bank of the Thames. All parties involved in development within these 11 viewing corridors must take account of this guidance to ensure the landmarks within them are not obscured from stipulated viewing points. 

The planning guidance also introduces 17 riverside and other panoramic views that were never before recognised under the previous view protection arrangements.  The 17 panoramas are protected in a slightly different way, with development only permitted where it enhances the view and complements the existing landmarks. 

The guidance provides a sensible balance between the need for new homes and jobs that are needed in our growing capital and the benefit for Londoners and visitors alike of seeing our landmarks and historic sites from key sites across the capital.
 
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said:

`London’s landmarks are cherished by Londoners and visitors to this great city. At present too much uncertainty surrounds the planning process and how we protect these views, leading to expensive public inquiries and costly delays.  Together, the London Plan and this guidance will provide much-needed certainty for developers and planners.  For the first time, this will help everyone to take a balanced view of development proposals, their impact on London’s major landmarks and their contribution to the capital’s character and identity.  As a result, we can all look forward to development across London that marries high quality design whilst protecting our historic built environment.  This will allow London to remain a competitive world city by developing in a dynamic, organic manner without inappropriate restraints.’

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

1. In 1991 ten strategic views across London were given protection by statutory Regional
Planning Guidance and made subject to directions issued by the Secretary of State. Responsibility for the views policy passed to the London Mayor in 2000 and the London Plan, published in 2004, identified 26 views to be protected, including all ten of the existing strategic views plus a new strategic view of the Tower of London from City Hall.

2. The London Mayor’s London View Management Framework (LVMF) supplements the London plan policy and explains how the views policy will be applied. With the publication of the London Views Management Framework SPG on Friday 13th July, the protection of the ten strategic views under the 1991 Regional Planning Guidance is revoked.  The ten strategic views, along with a newly introduced strategic view from City Hall to the Tower of London are, from Friday 13th July 2007, subject to new directions issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and to the policies for protection of strategic views in the London Plan.   These eleven strategic views focus on the landmarks of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and the Palace of Westminster.

3. In addition to the eleven strategic views (called Protected Vistas), the London Views Management Framework introduces seventeen additional views that require consideration under the London Plan and the guidance in the SPG.

4. To view the full document visit http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/spg.jsp

5. To view the directions issued by the Secretary of State of Communities and Local Government, visit http://www.gos.gov.uk/gol/Planning/?a=42496

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