Environment, design and heritage

• Design and Heritage

• High Buildings Study (2000) EDAW Ltd/Buro Happold Urban Projects. Published by Westminster City Council.
• Westminster World Heritage Site Management Plan (2007) Aitkins. Published by World Heritage Site Steering Group.
• Conservation Area Audits (various dates) Westminster City Council
• Draft Metropolitan Views SPD (2007) Westminster City Council

Flood Risk and Management

Draft Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2019

The Draft Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) supports the delivery of Westminster City Council’s statutory duties as a Local Planning Authority and a Lead Local Flood Authority.

Taking account of the impact of climate change the draft SFRA: 

• assesses the impact that development and changes to land use may have on flood risk in the city
• defines approaches to avoid, reduce, mitigate and manage flood risk
• informs and supports the City Plan 2019 - 2040 and Westminster’s other environmental and sustainability policies and strategies
• supports the council’s business continuity and resilience function in relation to emergency planning capabilities
• identifies the level of detail required for Site Specific Flood Risk Assessments that are provided with planning applications

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires the Westminster City Plan 2040 to be supported by a SFRA to inform strategic land use planning and decision making. The Flood and Water Management Act (2010) requires local authorities as part of their Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) function to prepare a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) which assesses the risk of flooding in the city. 

This draft SFRA replaces the previous assessment that was carried out in 2010 and incorporates the latest flood risk data from the Environment Agency. The draft SFRA 2019 is part of the evidence base for the City Plan 2019 - 2040. 

Westminster’s draft SFRA is published for public consultation until 31 July 2019.

Let us know what you think of the draft SFRA:

• online consultation
• email: planningpolicy@westminster.gov.uk - please put 'draft SFRA' in the subject box
• post: Policy and Strategy, 17th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP

Westminster's Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2010

Local Authorities are required to produce a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) under the National Planning Policy Framework. The SFRA seeks to form a holistic understanding of flood risk, factoring in the impact of climate change, and introduces a risk based management approach to flooding. This entails the assessment of all forms of flooding and associated risk, and to set out appropriate management measures.

The SFRA is not in itself a policy document, but can be used as a source to inform policy and management. It forms part of the evidence base for informing strategic policies for flooding in Westminster's City Plan. 

• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment: Main Report 2010
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment: Appendix 1 - Halcrow Report
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment: Appendix 1 - Halcrow Maps
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment: Appendices 2-6

Surface Water Management Plan

The Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) was undertaken as part of the Drain London Project in consultation with key stakeholders who are responsible for surface water management and drainage in the city. This document sets out the long term action plan to manage surface water in Westminster and will be used to inform the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.

• Draft Surface Water Management Plan

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA), 2011

This report summarises the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) undertaken to assist the City of Westminster to meet its duties as a Lead Local Flood Authority, with the delivery of the first stage of the Flood Risk Regulations (2009). The PFRA is a high level screening exercise that compiles information on significant local flood risk from past and future floods, based on readily available and derivable information.

The PFRA also identifies flood risk areas where the subsequent two stages of the Flood Risk Regulations apply. Stage two delivers Flood Risk Maps and stage three delivers Flood Risk Management Plans.

• Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, 2011
• PFRA Indicative Flood Risk Areas Map
• Map 4.1
• Map 4.1a
• Map 5.1
• Map 5.2
• Map 5.3
• Map 5.4
• Map 5.5
• Map 6.1
• Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2017 to 2022, Westminster City Council (PDF, 4MB)
• Local Flood Risk Management Strategy - consultation responses November 2017 (PDF, 100KB)

Health, well-being and pollution

• Active Westminster: Sport and Physical Activity Strategy 2008-2013 (2008) Westminster City Council.

• Air Quality Action Plan (2013) Westminster City Council

• Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 2005-2008 (2005) Westminster Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

• Drink-related Crime Statistics by Entertainment Premises (2010) Westminster City Council

• Noise Attitudes Survey (2008) GfK NOP Social Research. Published by Westminster City Council

• Noise Survey (2008) Scott Wilson. Published by Westminster City Council

• Public Health Annual Report 2006/2007 (2008) Westminster Primary Care Trust. Published by National Health Service

• Report on estimation of mortality impacts of particulate air pollution. Consulting report P951-001. (2010) Dr Brian G Miller Institute of Occupational Medicine.

• Safer Westminster Partnership Strategy Plan (Crime and Disorder Reduction Strategy 2011 08-2014 11) (2005) Safer Westminster Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership

• (The) Walking Strategy for Westminster (2004) Westminster City Council

• Westminster Aircraft Noise Study (2009) Westminster City Council

• Westminster Noise Strategy (2010) Westminster City Council

• Westminster Open Spaces Noise Study (2008) Westminster City Council

• Westminster Play Strategy 2005-2009 and refresh 2007-2010 (2005 and 2007) Westminster City Council

Climate change adaptation and mitigation

• Biodiversity Action Plan 2008 (2007) Westminster Biodiversity Partnership

• Carbon Policy Feasibility Assessment (July 2913) Arup

• ​Addendum note to Carbon Policy Feasibility Assessment (August 2014) Arup

• Improving Historic Soho’s Environmental Performance (2012) Sturgis Carbon Profiling LLP.  Published by Westminster City Council, English Heritage and the Soho Community Environmental Fund

• Retrofitting Historic Buildings for Sustainability (2013) Westminster City Council

• Retrofitting Soho (2008) The Max Lock Centre, University of Westminster. Published by MLC Press, University of Westminster in partnership with Westminster City Council.

Basements

• Westminster City Council's Residential Basement Report (July 2013) Alan Baxter's and Associates LLP