Current and recent consultations
When producing planning policy documents, the council must comply with its Statement of Community Involvement. We inform, involve and consult our residents and stakeholders when drawing up planning policy documents. This includes Development Plan documents and other documents such as draft Supplementary Planning Documents, draft Neighbourhood Plans or Neighbourhood Area and Forum designations.
This page contains information on all current and recent consultations.
Environment Supplementary Planning Document
Public comment was sought on an update to the Environment Supplementary Planning Document (ESPD) from January to early March 2025.
The ESPD provides guidance on implementing the environmental policies within the council's City Plan 2019-2040 in the areas of Air Quality, Local Environmental Impacts, Greening and Biodiversity, Flood Risk, Waste Management, Sustainable Design, and Retrofit.
The role of the ESPD is to support our aspirations to create a greener, cleaner and healthier city. The ESPD will help ensure that we drive emissions reductions and wider environmental sustainability through the city’s built environment.
For further information, please visit the dedicated page on Commonplace.
The consultation is now closed and we are reviewing comments received before preparing any subsequent modifications and seeking required approvals from the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development.
If you have any questions, please contact planningpolicy@westminster.gov.uk.
Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum Re-Designation
The council has received an application to re-designate the Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum.
The Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum (the forum) was originally designated on 8 October 2014 and then re-designated on 13 January 2020. A neighbourhood forum designation lasts for five years. Accordingly, the current designation expired on 13 January 2025, and the forum has applied to formally renew it in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Localism Act 2011, and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.
Since last being designated, the forum has progressed the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan (the plan), which formally became ‘made’ on 7 March 2024. Renewal will enable the forum to continue to be the responsible body for neighbourhood planning within the Belgravia Neighbourhood Area (the area) and allow them to monitor the implementation of the ‘made’ plan, as well as make any updates to the plan should they be deemed necessary.
The area's geographic boundary also remains identical to the original boundary, which was designated in 2014 and re-designated in 2020.
To meet legislative requirements, the forum is required to have a written constitution that describes the basic framework of the organisation and a minimum of 21 members.
More information on this can be viewed on a dedicated webpage for 'Live Neighbourhood Forum Designations'
Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum Re-designation
The council has received an application to re-designate the Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum (the Forum).
Westminster City Council formally approved the designated area for the Forum on 28 March 2014. The Forum was originally designated by the council on 5 February 2015 for a period of five years and re-designated on 20 February 2020 for another five years. Accordingly, the Forum's designation expired on 20 February 2025.
The forum has applied to the council to formally renew its designation in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Localism Act 2011, and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The neighbourhood area boundary remains identical to the original boundary that was designated in March 2014.
More information on this can be viewed on a dedicated webpage for Live Neighbourhood Forum Designations.
Regulation 7 Directions: Estate Agents' Boards
The council recently closed consultation on a proposed Regulation 7 Direction concerning Estate Agents' Boards. The consultation took place between 10th January and 3rd February 2025.
Currently some parts of Westminster are subject to a Regulation 7 Direction, which means consent from the council is required to display Estate Agents’ Boards. The areas covered by the current direction can be viewed on our Regulation 7 Direction map.
The current Regulation 7 Direction is an important and effective tool in protecting the character of Westminster’s neighbourhoods from unnecessary street clutter. The current direction expires in May 2025.
The area covered by the existing direction also leaves several parts of the city vulnerable to the installation of these boards without the need for consent from the council.
We are proposing to renew the existing Regulation 7 Direction and expand it to cover the entire city. If this is not possible, expansion of the existing direction to also capture all conservation areas not currently covered will also be sought.
Our reasons for doing so are set out in this Cabinet Member Report.
The consultation is now closed, and the comments received during the consultation period have been reviewed, addressed, and compiled into a consultation report.
This report has been submitted as part of the application to the Secretary of State.
If you have any questions, please contact planningpolicy@westminster.gov.uk.
