Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

Appendix E - 2
Trees and the Public Realm (Draft)
The Mayors framework recognises the importance of street trees, explaining that people in London will come
into contact with them more often than trees planted in other locations, and that often they are the only
significant vegetation growing in a street. It cites the benefits of street trees as including:
• Enhanced quality of life for those living and working in London through promoting a sense of wellbeing,
and so health
• Increased privacy in residential roads through screening
• Increased local property values
• Historical importance – many of London’s street trees are from Victorian design
• Linking areas of green space
• Filtering airbourne dust and pollution
• Reducing temperature extremes at street level
• Absorbing some traffic noise
The document also mentions certain negative aspects of street trees including:
• Remarkably limited variety – according to the London Tree Survey (1993) less than 10 species are
commonly planted.
• Subsidence - although the perceived threat is much greater than the actual threat, with less than
1% of trees estimated to having been proven to have caused damage. Nevertheless claims can
run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The existing London Plan highlights opportunities for development proposals to enhance the natural
environment and incorporate planting initiatives. The consultation draft replacement plan (October 2009)
takes this one step further and mentions the Mayor’s intent to produce “supplementary guidance on to guide
each borough’s production of “a Tree Strategy covering the audit, protection, planting and management of
trees and woodland”. The replacement plan also endorses the ‘right tree right place’ approach as taken in
this document.
The London Economic Strategy recognises that economic development and regeneration must be supported
and enabled by the creation, development or enhancement of town centres, parks and open spaces, and the
importance of Londoners’ health and links to air quality.
The London Biodiversity Strategy highlights the benefits of trees in enhancing local biodiversity, reducing
noise transmission, helping to combat climate change (albeit on a minor scale), and improving air quality. It
encourages the recognition of the economic and energy uses for woody material arising from managing
street trees, and states that appropriate tree planting occurs in places that will not harm the built environment,
infrastructure, or important existing wildlife habitat.
In seeking to build on London’s diversity and create a prosperous, vibrant and healthy city, the key aims (for
this guidance) of the Sustainable Development Framework for London are to build and sustain Londoners’
sense of ownership, and to protect and improve the city’s natural ecosystems, its biodiversity, its open
spaces, and its built environment whilst using resources prudently, efficiently and effectively.
As published February 2008 and consolidated with amendments since 2004.