28 — Local Character and Design Quality (Strategic Policy).

A. The Council will require all development to be of high architectural and urban design quality. The character and heritage of the borough has been identified in the borough-wide characterisation work undertaken as part of the Urban Design Study. The ‘places’ as identified in the Study will need to be maintained and their character enhanced where opportunities arise. Development proposals will have to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the site and how it relates to its existing context, including character and appearance, and take opportunities to improve the quality and character of buildings, spaces and the local area. B. To ensure development respects, contributes to and maximises opportunities to enhance the local environment and character, proposals must reflect and demonstrate the following principles: 1. Ensure the proposal is compatible with the local character, including the relationship to existing townscape, development patterns, views, local urban grain and frontages as well as scale, height, massing, density, landscaping, proportions, form, materials and detailing; 2. Ensure the development provides a high-quality sustainable design, construction and layout, including adaptability to climate change whilst responding positively to the local character as identified in the Urban Design Study and Conservation Area Appraisals/Statements; 3. Use a design-led approach to optimise the potential of a development site through layout, siting and access arrangements, to ensure the development integrates positively with its surroundings; 4. Ensure the development takes account of the existing urban grain and development patterns, including relationship of heights to widths; 5. Sympathetically upgrading and reusing existing buildings, rather than demolishing and building new, allows a better response to the local character whilst also making substantial energy savings due to the embodied carbon in existing buildings that would otherwise be lost through demolition (see also Policy 4 'Minimising Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Promoting Energy Efficiency (Strategic Policy) '); 6. Ensure the development responds to and where possible improves existing patterns of movement, permeability and street widths that encourage and promote active travel and well-being; 7. Maximise opportunities for urban greening, and integrate existing and incorporate new natural features into a multifunctional network that supports quality of place and biodiversity, which address climate change and resilience; 8. Ensure public realm is well-designed, safe, accessible, inclusive, attractive, well-connected, related to the local and historic context, and easy to understand, service and maintain (as set out in London Plan Policy D8); 9. Ensure the design, layout and materials respect and respond to the historic environment and any relevant heritage assets; 10. Ensure developments achieve the highest standards of accessible and inclusive design, in accordance with London Plan Policy D5, with the aim of providing connectivity and permeability throughout (as such gated developments will not be permitted); 11. Minimise opportunities for crime and antisocial behaviour, based on an understanding of the locality and site-specific circumstances, utilising principles of natural surveillance and orientation of buildings as well as uses, with all major development expected to meet the standards and objectives of the Secured by Design initiative; 12. Consider the holistic impact on the local suitable microclimate, including as a result of lighting features; and 13. Ensure the development’s proposed uses are suitable and compatible for the proposed location, providing a mix of uses including local services and facilities to support daily life and enable Richmond upon Thames Local Plan Track Changes Version for Environment Committee Sep communities to ‘live locally’ in accordance with Policy 1, taking account of any potential adverse impacts of the co-location of uses through the layout, design and management of the site. C. All proposals, including extensions, alterations and shopfronts, will be assessed against the policies contained within an adopted neighbourhood plan where applicable, and the advice set out in the Urban Design Study and the relevant Village Planning Guidance and other SPDs relating to character and design. Shopfronts D. The Council will resist the removal of shopfronts of architectural or historic interest. Shopfronts, including signage and illumination, should complement the proportions, character, materials and detailing, surrounding streetscene and the building of which it forms part. Blinds, canopies or shutters, where acceptable in principle, must be appropriate to the character of the shopfront and the context within which it is located. External security grilles and large illuminated fascias will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances. In sensitive areas, such as Conservation Areas and relevant Character Areas as identified in the Urban Design Study and the Village Planning Guidance SPDs, rigid and gloss finish blinds will generally be unacceptable. Advertisements and hoardings E. The Council will exercise strict control over the design and siting of advertisements and hoardings to ensure the character of individual buildings and streets are not materially harmed, having regard to the interests of amenity and public safety (including highway safety).

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