LPA: Westminster City Council
Westminster Heritage Statement Requirements
Reviewed by
Oliver Wakefield-Smith
Founder, Digital Signet
Last reviewed 22 June 2026 · Refreshed quarterly
Direct answer
What does Westminster City Council require?
Westminster City Council validates heritage submissions under Westminster City Plan 2019-2040 policy 38 (heritage) plus the 12 individual Conservation Area Audits. The following checklist card summarises accepted formats, page-count guidance and common validation traps for this authority.
Westminster City Council validation checklist
Westminster City Plan 2019-2040 policy 38 (heritage) plus the 12 individual Conservation Area Audits.
Accepted formats
- Statement of Heritage Significance for Grade II minor
- Full HIA mandatory for all Grade II* and Grade I works
- Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment for tall-building proposals
Page-count guidance
City Plan policy 38 expects proportionate detail; in practice 10 to 30 pages for typical applications.
Common validation traps
- Missing reference to the specific Conservation Area Audit
- Failure to address Westminster's strategic-views policy
- Inadequate treatment of stucco material specification
Practical preparation steps
- Download the LPA's current local validation list before any submission.
- Read the relevant Conservation Area Appraisal or Statement for the site.
- Check for any Article 4 directions affecting the site.
- Where pre-application advice is available, take it , even where charged.
- Match the accreditation of the author to the asset grade (RIBA-CA or IHBC for Grade II* and Grade I).
Where the LPA's heritage process sits in the planning clock
The LPA's heritage officer is a statutory consultee within the 8-week determination clock for planning permission, the 8-week clock for listed-building consent, and the 16-week clock for major applications. The officer's response is usually written within 21 days of consultation; a strong HIA accelerates that response and reduces the risk of a Regulation 25 further-information request.