9.17    Strategic Planning Guidance provides the following framework for protecting important views.

' Important Views

70. Strategic views of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster are of historic importance and must be protected from obtrusive development. The Secretary of State intends to issue further guidance on the protection of strategic views. Boroughs should include in their UDPs policies to protect their local views as appropriate.'

Aim

9.18    The London skyline and long distance vistas are important to London's townscape and historic character and the City Council will help to protect strategic views of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster.

Reasons

9.19    Although there are many famous buildings in London, the profiles of St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Stephen's Clock Tower (Big Ben) are internationally famous symbols in the London skyline. Post-war development has changed many traditional long distance views of these monuments and the City Council considers it very important to prevent development from further impairing important views of these unique historic buildings. Supplementary guidance on 'The Protection of Important Views' was issued by the Department of the Environment on 16th August 1989, and the Secretary of State issued Final Guidance and Directions for the protection of ten views in October 1991. They aim to protect views of national importance which might be obscured by new development and which traverse more than one borough. The views listed below are the ones so far selected by the Department of the Environment, although there are many others of special merit.

9.20    Ten key views of London's most famous landmarks: St. Paul's Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster, are identified for special protection. These are:

St. Paul's Cathedral is defined as the drum, peristyle and dome. The Palace of Westminster is defined as the whole Palace between, and including the Clock Tower (Big Ben) and the Victoria Tower. Views 2, 4 and 9 above traverse Westminster. Viewpoint 10 is within Westminster. Their sight lines and zones of protection are shown on the Proposals Map.

Descriptions of the Views across Westminster

9.21

(A)    The view from King Henry VIII's Mound, Richmond Park, to St. Paul's Cathedral. This is a 'keyhole' view northeastward from the Mound, through a ride which crosses the Sidmouth Plantation. The dome of St. Paul's Cathedral is seen as a clear silhouette against the skyline. The viewing corridor extends across Richmond Park (Richmond), West Putney (Wandsworth), Fulham, Chelsea, Victoria (Westminster) and beyond the Cathedral towards Liverpool Street Station (City and Hackney) and the Bishopsgate Goods Depot (Tower Hamlets).

(B)    The view from Primrose Hill to the Palace of Westminster. The parkland contains London Zoo which provides a unique feature in the foreground of the panoramic view from the viewing plaque at the top of the hill. The clock face and double level roof form of St. Stephen's Clock Tower (Big Ben) are clearly visible above the foreground buildings. The Victoria Tower is partially obscured to the right by foreground development. Two buildings rise above the line of the main body of the Palace between St. Stephen's Clock Tower and Victoria Tower are set against the backdrop of the Crystal Palace ridge which appears as a grey hillside at this distance. Other historic landmarks in this view include St. Pancras Station, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Royal Courts of Justice, All Saints Church, Margaret Street, Westminster Cathedral and Battersea Power Station. The viewing cone extends across the London Borough of Camden into Westminster, and beyond the Palace into Lambeth.

(C)    The view from Parliament Hill to the Palace of Westminster. The viewpoint is 350m. east from the peak of the hill, where both the Victoria Tower and St. Stephen's Clock Tower are visible. The view is framed in the near foreground by residential towers in the Kentish Town/Gospel Oak area of the London Borough of Camden. Also in the foreground, Euston Tower lies between Victoria Tower and the residential tower of Barrington Court. Walking westwards towards the peak of the hill, initially Euston Tower and then the residential towers of Bacton and Denton, partially obscure the view before Victoria Tower reappears.

A view of St. Stephen's Clock Tower can again be seen from the most westerly part of the path near the exit from the parkland to the road called Parliament. Other landmarks in this view include the Post Office Tower and Centrepoint. The viewing corridor extends across the London Borough of Camden into Westminster, and beyond the Palace into Lambeth.

(D)    The narrowly framed view of St. Paul's Cathedral from the Embankment at Westminster Pier. The dome can be seen clear against the skyline with the roof line of the Royal Festival Hall to the left and Shell building to the right.

Area of protection

9.22    The exclusion zones along the viewing cones, in which developments over a specific height will not normally be permitted, are shown on the Proposals Map. Apart from the Richmond and Westminster Pier views which have 148.9m and 147.5m width exclusion zones, the exclusion zones have a 300m width at St. Paul's Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster, (which encompasses the length of the Palace from Victoria Tower to St. Stephen's Clock Tower). Developers are advised to refer to the DoE's Regional Planning Guidance, Annex A, (Nov. 1991), 'Supplementary Guidance for London on the Protection of Strategic Views,' and the City Council (and City Corporation where appropriate) to check the height limits for particular areas. A wider setting consultation area (WSCA) and background consultation area are also depicted on the Proposals Map. Applications for buildings in the wider setting or background consultation areas which reach or exceed 'trigger' heights in the exclusion zone will be referred to foreground and backdrop authorities and other appropriate bodies for consideration. Reference should also be made to the City Council's guidance note, 'Strategic Views in Westminster' (1994).

9.23    The characteristic foreground and setting of the views are important and the City Council wishes to ensure that no development adversely affects these, even if not obstructing specific aspects of St. Paul's Cathedral or the Palace of Westminster. The City Council will thereby seek to protect and enhance other historic landmarks and features which may appear in the setting of the views of the Palace of Westminster and St. Paul's Cathedral.

9.24    Materials of proposed buildings within the areas of protection, the defined wider setting and backdrop can significantly alter views. Careful consideration of building materials and tone can make a proposal more sympathetic to long distance views.

9.25    Unfortunately, buildings already infringe the strategic view protection area or are considered adversely to affect the setting, foreground area or backdrop because of their location, height or massing. Upon redevelopment the City Council will look for opportunities to improve the strategic views and thus will encourage replacement developments to enhance and restore the setting of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Palace of Westminster in the defined area of setting, foreground and backdrop.

9.26    The Council will consult other relevant local authorities and bodies on any application for development within the view corridors defined on the Proposals Map, which exceed the height threshold. The Royal Fine Art Commission, the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission and other amenity groups will also be consulted as appropriate.

9.27    Where no agreement can be reached among planning authorities on development proposals which significantly affect the views, the proposal will be referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment to consider whether it should be "called in".

9.28    The City Council may also request the "call in" of proposals made in other boroughs, if they are likely to affect the views.

POLICY DES 2 - Strategic views

(A)    The City Council will normally refuse permission if a proposed development within a viewing corridor would exceed the development plane between the viewpoint and either the base of the lower drum of St. Paul's Cathedral, or the general roofline of the Palace of Westminster. This will include proposed developments in locations where the views are obstructed by existing buildings which exceed the height limits.

(B)    The City Council will normally resist development within the wider setting and background consultation areas which would adversely affect the strategic views.

(C)    The improvement of the views will be sought when existing buildings of inappropriate height are redeveloped. Where appropriate, applicants will be expected to provide montage studies of the likely impact of a proposal on the views.