5.0 PSPA Public Realm Strategy
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Westminster City Council Paddington Special Policy Area Public Realm Strategy June 2003 urban initiatives Contents Foreword 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Background 3.0 Recent History and Current Development Proposals 4.0 Future Development Proposals 5.0 Paddington Waterside Public Realm Strategy 6.0 The Public Realm in Privately-Owned Sites 7.0 The Public Highway 8.0 The Canalside 9.0 Pedestrian Routes 10.0 Cycling Routes 11.0 Public and Private Lavatory Provision Appendix - Product Reference Sheets urban initiatives Foreword This document sets out the Public Realm Strategy for the Paddington Special Policy Area (PSPA), now known as Paddington Waterside. The recommendations contained in this document, which has been subject to consultation with amenity groups and developers, will be Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) and will also be a design guide for the area for other projects. The Public Realm Strategy deals with three zones within Paddington Waterside: public areas within development sites, the public highway and the canalside route. Throughout these three areas a contemporary style is proposed for Paddington Waterside, in keeping with the nature of the various developments that are already under construction. The Strategy recognises the need for development and change but, by specifying materials, furniture and lighting within the open spaces and public highway, seeks to create a particular style and character for the new quarter. The objective is to create and maintain an environment which has the following characteristics: • simplicity; • robustness; and • high quality. The importance of a rigorous management regime for the public realm is emphasised and the Strategy also seeks to promote the use of materials and equipment that will be easy to service and maintain and provide value and quality through consideration of “whole-life” Paddington Special Policy Area (Paddington Waterside) costing. The recommendations in this Strategy will provide for improved accessibility for all pedestrians and particular attention is paid to accommodating and assisting people with disabilities. 1186 | Paddington Special Policy Area Strategy 3 1.0 Introduction This document constitutes Supplementary Structure of Guidance Planning and Design Guidance and will be This document is structured as follows: utilised in the following ways: • the background to the strategy is set out • to guide and co-ordinate Westminster in Section 2; City Council (WCC) Officers; • current and future development • to advise and direct WCC consultants proposals, both land use and and contractors; transportation, within the PSPA are • to provide advice and guidance to described in Sections 3 Paddington Waterside developers, the and 4; Paddington Waterside Partnership (PWP) • the overall public realm strategy is and other organisations involved in explained in Section 5; Paddington Waterside such as Transport • specific recommendations for the three Praed Street for London (TfL) and the Greater London identified zones within Paddington Authority (GLA); and Waterside are set out in Sections 6-8; • as the basis of an expansion and revision • discussion of pedestrian routes through of the appropriate parts of the Paddington Waterside and their availablity Westminster City Council Street Furniture throughout the various phases of Manual. development; The Brief • description of cycling routes through In October 2001, Urban Initiatives were Paddington Waterside; appointed by WCC to prepare a Public Realm • information regarding the provision of PaddingtonCentral Strategy for the Paddington Waterside. The lavatories in the area; and aim of the brief was: • product reference sheets covering all recommended products are provided as “To develop a coherent strategy for the appendices. public realm within Paddington SPA, including North Wharf Road paving materials, furniture and lighting, against which development and highway improvement proposals can be judged, to provide appropriate standards of quality, accessibility, legibility and area identification, with seamless links between adopted and private areas.” London Street 1186 | Paddington Special Policy Area Strategy 4 2.0 Background This Supplementary Planning and Design In addition, Policy DES7: Townscape Details Council staff as well as landowners and Guidance for the public realm in Paddington states that; developers. The manual includes both Waterside has been developed within the general principles of good street furniture (A) Public art context of a number of existing policies and design and implementation and detailed strategies that have been or are being 1. The provision of public art will be product reference sheets. implemented within the City of Westminster. encouraged in association with all large The principles of the manual still stand and A brief summary of these is provided below: development proposals, including many of the products included are in use redevelopments. within different parts of Westminster. City of Westminster Unitary 2. Permission will be granted for public art However, it is not proposed to utilise the Development Plan that: products in the manual within Paddington Westminster’s Pre-Inquiry Version Second 2.1 is of the highest standard of design Waterside since these are generally Deposit of the Unitary Development Plan (put heritage/conservation style. Paddington on Deposit 26 January 2002) sets the policy 2.2 is made of high quality materials Waterside developments are comprehensive context for this SPG. 2.3 enhances its setting re-build projects and it is not considered Of particular relevance to this study is Policy appropriate to use the heritage-style “Street Furniture Manual” (WCC) PSPA 6: Ensuring a High Quality Sustainable 2.4 where fixed to a building is integral to Westminster street furniture within a Environment which states that: the design of the building. contemporary townscape. The City Council will seek to ensure that: and also The Street Furniture Manual is currently (A) Development proposals take full account (F) Street Furniture under review. of the policies set out in Chapter 9: 1. Permission will be granted for street Paddington Waterside Partnership Environment; with regard to furniture proposals that: environmental impacts, sustainable Paddington Waterside—Creating a Place design principles and greening of the 1.1 are of the highest standards of design The Paddington Waterside Partnership environment, and where possible 1.2 harmonise with the street scene (formerly the Paddington Regeneration promote best practice; Partnership) published the document 1.3 are sited so as to minimise visual clutter (B) A pedestrian route, or improvements / “Paddington Waterside—Creating a Place” in extensions to existing access is provided 1.4 allows people clear and safe passage August 2001. This is a strategic design in all canalside developments to achieve along the pavement guide for the public realm within the boundary of the Paddington Waterside. The an 18 hour (6am to midnight) public 1.5 in conservation areas, are of appropriate access around Paddington Basin; introductory material in the document states and traditional design. “Creating a Place” (PRP) (C) Where appropriate, developments fully that: 2. Permission will not be granted for recognise the recreational, amenity and “In Paddington, there is an opportunity to proposals that involve the loss of historic ecological value of the Canal and create a new quarter with a distinct identity, street furniture. incorporate proposals and management assisted through the careful application of arrangements to enhance these aspects; City of Westminster Street Furniture street materials: paving, roads, footpaths, (D) Safe and convenient pedestrian and cycle cycleways, lighting, street furniture and Manual routes through the area, and in particular signage. This is not to create an environment between the Paddington Waterside and In 1993 WCC published its Street Furniture which is alien to, or different from, the wider nearby residential areas and public Manual. The aim of the document is to character and context of Westminster. It is transport, including access for those with encourage well-designed streetscape within to help create a recognisable district which disabilities is provided; and the City by the provision of an easily promotes the range of conditions that (E) Public open space or private open space accessible reference document. The support and sustain developments, ensuring which is available for public use, is document is intended for reference by the Paddington Waterside will become an provided where possible, in major exciting and desirable location.” (PRP 2001). development schemes. (WCC 2001). 1186 | Paddington Special Policy Area Strategy 5 2.0 Background The document set out some principles for Option 2 (Medium Cost)—The the public realm which are to be adhered to introduction of new and replacement by all members of the Partnership when designs of street columns of a higher developing their individual sites. As already standard of design at key locations indicated, the document is strategic in nature (Praed Street). The possibility of using and therefore provides few details in terms contemporary columns on Praed Street of specific streetscene features and is put forward. materials. However, a number of relevant Option 3 (High Cost)—The renewal of statements relating the PRP’s aspirations for all street lights within the PMZ with an the public realm were made, as follows: agreed contemporary design of columns