Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

Trees and the Public Realm (Draft) Appendix E - 1
APPENDIX E
POLICY FRAMEWORK
There is much National policy guidance that is relevant, including PPS5, but this document lists
only the local policy framework. All national guidance is freely available from government and
organisation websites, including English Heritage.
Regional Policy
The Mayor of London has committed to planting more trees in London as part of mitigating the impact of
climate change. Leading to a Greener London: An Environment Programme for the Capital (July 2009)
contains predictions which indicate that average summer temperatures could be 3.9C higher in London by
2080. In response, this document suggests that an extra two million trees should be planted in London to
combat rising temperatures over future decades as well as creating more green space and roofs. Notably,
the Mayor promised to fund 10,000 extra trees in his election campaign – at the time of finalising this
document 1,500 have been planted.
Underpinning this, the Mayor is firmly committed to maintaining and enhancing London’s trees as a vital part
of the environment of Greater London. The London Tree and Woodland Framework (March 2005) addresses
the protection, management and enhancement of London’s trees over the next 20 years and covers the
spectrum of different townscape and landscape types from Community Forests on the outer fringe, to the
very urban heart. The Framework seeks to ensure that:
• The existing stock of trees is managed and maintained to safeguard its value to London both now
and in the future
• There is increased awareness of the value of trees to the health and well being of all Londoners
• The contribution of trees and woodlands to London’s sustainability and quality of life is
maximised
• Natural regeneration and new planting in appropriate locations is encouraged to further enhance
the contribution of trees to London Life.
The four key aims to achieve the above general goals are:
• To ensure trees contribute to a high quality natural environment
• To help shape the built environment and new development in a way that strengthens the positive
character and diversity of London
• Through people’s contact with trees to help foster community and individual people’s well-being
and social inclusion
• To support the capital’s economy.
The Framework shows that Westminster, even given its substantial parks, has one of the lowest tree densities
in London, under 30 trees/ha. This is due to many factors, not least the organic, medieval street pattern in
some parts of the city which is unsuited to the introduction of trees, the lack of woodland and the higher
densities of development, resulting in less space for trees to be planted or establish themselves. A higher
proportion of trees in Westminster are publicly owned though, given the lack of private open space,
commensurate with those higher densities.