Trees and the Public Realm - Westminster City Council

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Trees and the Public Realm (Draft)
offer scope for some street tree planting but these will need to be very carefully
considered according to the particular context and with rational composition in mind.
Alternative opportunities for greening in these areas should also be considered as
outlined in Section 8.
Scale and proportion
45. A 30-metre tall tree is a large object within the townscape (being similar in height to an
eight storey building) with the effect compounded if planted in groups or avenues. It is
important to therefore consider the effect that the size and number of trees, when fully
grown, may have on the surrounding townscape.
46. The height of any immediately adjacent buildings should be a key consideration. This is
particularly important in residential streets where trees that over sail the adjacent
houses can not only create anxiety for residents, but can also unbalance the overall
appearance of the street. Great care and attention to detail has been paid to
Westminster’s buildings and townscape over many centuries, and trees should
complement the buildings fronting our streets and the area generally.
47. There is much more scope for larger trees in parks and gardens. Furthermore, single
specimens at junctions, those in squares, or those planted as part of an avenue may
serve a purpose in structuring the space or as a landmark and can therefore grow
higher than adjoining rooflines. However in both cases care needs to be given to the
amount of daylight to nearby habitable windows, and the size of the space available for
healthy growth. In areas of high buildings, carefully selected smaller trees can introduce
a more human scale.
Ebury Bridge, SW1 (left) and Broad Court, WC2 (right): The trees shown right in Covent Garden are in proportion
with the surrounding buildings, in contrast to Ebury Bridge where the tree appears lost at its current size in this
arrangement .