Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

Appendix F - 4
Trees and the Public Realm (Draft)
• Plant native tree species, that provide habitat for wildlife and enhance biological diversity, where it is
appropriate to do so
• Remove specimens which are considered to pose an unacceptable level of risk to persons and
property, where removal is justified to implement an agreed landscape plan, or where replacement
with a better specimen might be the best way forward.
• Consult with interested parties such as residents associations, prior to carrying out works that will
have a significant impact to amenity or the appearance of the area
Schools
Most schools have an element of outdoor space, and trees can add character, shade to playgrounds, and
the ability to educate pupils of their proximity to the natural world and the importance of trees. Schools will
bear in mind the educational and amenity benefits possibilities in maintaining a diverse, healthy tree stock.
There are opportunities in the current Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that trees of
quality and scale in particular are retained, and numbers increased where practical. The council’s Open
Space Strategy also notes a priority to identify appropriate opportunities to make spaces, including school
playgrounds, ‘multifunctional’ which may allow greater use by the public.
Council Housing Estates
Whilst there are a number of excellent trees growing in Westminster’s housing estates, they also provide
good opportunities for Council to increase its tree stock. The Open Space Strategy prioritises the
enhancement of open space within housing estates, including maintaining biodiversity and addressing areas
of wildlife deficiency, and designating and extending Green Routes. The document also sets out how the
council intends to address a number of identified priorities (which could include improvements in the
provision of high quality trees) including:
• In partnership with CityWest Homes and other housing providers, carrying out a comprehensive study
of open space on Housing Land, including a full audit of space on estates, including its condition and
function; and working with residents to explore ways of improving the quality of housing open spaces,
and addressing conflicts of interest on the usage and function of housing space.
• Preparing design guidance for new and existing open space on housing land
The urban design principles in Section 4 of this document should be rigorously applied, ensuring a thorough
understanding about how the tree will contribute to the amenity offered by the open space. Detailed
townscape guidance on various types of housing estates is also provided in Appendix B.
Social Services
There are less opportunities for increased tree planting on Social Services sites, as they tend not to include
much open space. Nevertheless, consideration should be given in to the potential for trees to offer amenity,
educational and sustainability benefits at each site.