Visit Westminster City Council Homepage
City Plan Partial Review branding - urban landscape

City Plan Partial Review 2024

The City Plan Partial Review Regulation 19 consultation has now closed.

The council is conducting a partial review of the existing Westminster City Plan 2019 - 2040 (adopted April 2021) to ensure Westminster is an inclusive city where people want to live, work and play. 

This consultation was your opportunity to have a say on whether the revised and emerging policies as part of this partial review are legally compliant, sound and have been prepared in accordance with the Duty to Cooperate.

. Further information supporting the City Plan Partial Review and the next steps on the process can be accessed on the council’s website.

About the project

Email

The partial review of the City Plan has reached a new milestone. 

Following extensive evidence gathering, engagement and policy drafting, the council is now exhibiting the revised City Plan as part of a statutory 'Regulation 19' process. 

The City Plan 2019-2040, is the council's Local Plan. It is our main planning document that sets out the council's vision and framework for manging both the built and natural environment in Westminster. The current City Plan was adopted in April 2021, but has been re-examined following its adoption with a vision for making Westminster a fairer and more inclusive city.

The aim of this review is not to replace the existing City Plan with an entirely new plan. Instead, we are focusing on three policy areas that we feel most urgently need attention. These are:

  • Strengthening of the former Policy 9, which is now new Policy 13 - Affordable Housing.
    We want to make sure that more genuinely affordable homes are developed. 
  • Introducing a new Policy 43 Retrofit First 
    Where appropriate, we want to encourage developers to prioritise retrofit and refurbishment of existing buildings over demolition.
  • Introducing new Policies 8-11 for four new Site Allocations,  
    We're looking to unlock the development potential of four underutilised and complex sites and see them contribute towards our vision for Westminster.

This consultation is running from 14 March to 9 May 2024. Representations can be made using our consultation webpage on Commonplace - City Plan Partial Review 2024, by email to planningpolicy@westminster.gov.uk. If being sent by email, representations should be clearly labelled ‘City Plan Partial Review – response to Regulation 19 consultation’.

Please note – comments should only relate to those sections of the plan subject to revision. 

The full draft of the revised City Plan can be downloaded here. 

We have also produced an interactive, simple English explainer of the partial review and the revised/new policies - Simple Explainer ¦ What is the Partial City Plan Review.

Further information supporting the City Plan Partial Review can be accessed on council's website. 

Have your say

nhmennrkjxgwylxzyrvh.png
Closed

Revised Affordable Housing Policy

Learn more about the revised Affordable Housing Policy and provide your views

Project:City Plan Partial Review
gqc9pg09kkxackt0swpe.png
Closed

New Retrofit First Policy

Learn more about the new Retrofit First Policy and provide your views

Project:City Plan Partial Review
pyif00naducfyrxqjdex.png
Closed

New Site Allocations

Learn more about the new Site Allocation Policies and provide your views

Project:City Plan Partial Review

Timeline

Current City Plan adopted

April - 2021
The current City Plan is adopted and comes into effect. The existing City Plan can be accessed here: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/media/document/city-plan-2019-2040

Regulation 18 consultation

October 2022 - November 2022
The council advised the community that it intended to partially review the existing City Plan, with a focus on affordable housing, new retrofit policies and the introduction of site allocations. The community was asked for early input on the direction of the City Plan’s partial review and was invited to provide ideas, comments and relay concerns. The Regulation 18 webpage can be accessed here: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/planning-building-control-and-environmental-regulations/planning-policy/city-plan-partial-review

Evidence gathering

December 2022 - October 2023
The council analysed the feedback received at Regulation 18 and continued to gather an evidence base to help inform and shape the future policies. This allowed the council to create the basic principles for the new and revised policies and commence drafting the proposed policies based on these principles. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/planning-building-control-and-environmental-regulations/planning-policy/city-plan-partial-review

Informal engagement

October 2023 - January 2024
In order to maximise stakeholder involvement throughout the policymaking process, the council undertook informal engagement activities prior to finalising policy wording. Activities were held with landowners, neighbourhood forums, business associations and other key stakeholder groups to ensure their input as the policy wording was being drafted.

Finalisation of policy wording

February 2024 - March 2024
After building the evidence based and completing informal consultation, the council finalised the draft policy in order for it to be formally exhibited as part of Regulation 19 consultation. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/planning-building-control-and-environmental-regulations/planning-policy/city-plan-partial-review

Regulation 19 Consultation

March 2024 - May 2024
We are currently conducting the second round of statutory consultation, called Regulation 19 Consultation. Regulation 19 is a formal round of consultation where the draft policies are exhibited for 6 weeks. Key stakeholders, including residents, developers and community groups, are invited to comment on the draft policies and advise whether they believe the draft policies are sound and comply with the council's duty to cooperate. The consultation closes on 9 May 2024.

Review of Your Comments

April 2024 - June 2024
The council will review and consider each of the comments received during Regulation 19 Consultation. Amendments to the plan may be made if a submission underscores elements of the partial review that may not align with Duty to Cooperate obligations, are not sound or are not legally compliant.

Submission of the final document to Inspector

Mid - Late 2024
The final revised City Plan to the Planning Inspector for examination. Further public hearings may be held, pending the directive of the inspectorate.

Planning Policy Team

Contact us