URBAN FORM
P34
BUILDING LINE Unless otherwise specified in a Local Plan, the setting back of buildings from the official building alignment will only be allowed in: • Villa and Bungalow Areas (A3b); and • Commercial areas (A4b), where it may be established that such setback will provide a feature of interest and variety that would add to the quality of the streetscape, or in the case of Local Centres (A2) if this will result in the creation of new public spaces, in line with the provisions of Guidance G21. The appropriate amount of such setback will be determined from the streetscape analysis and street photographic survey, giving regard to issues in relation to both the building proportion and the relationship to the street parameters. In all other areas, a setback from the building line will not be allowed, in order to maintain and enhance the coherence of the streetscape and the character of the urban townscape. Furthermore, any ramps to basements will not be visible from the street and will be closed off with apertures that are appropriate to the design of the building and to the streetscape in terms of both proportion and materials.
G15
EXPOSED PARTY WALLS DUE TO SETBACK Where a building is allowed to be set back from the building line, the exposed party wall should be constructed with an additional skin that reproduces the architectural features, materials and details of the front elevation of the protruding building in order to wrap such building around in a continuous manner.
3.2.2 Façade proportion in terraced developments Terraced developments are characterised by important vertical and horizontal lines that compose the basic façade proportions. Such proportions provide a consistent rhythm within the streetscape, thus contributing to the streetscape’s harmony and order, even though the individual façade compositions would differ in terms of the architectural details.
G16
FAÇADE PROPORTION
In order to articulate the spatial enclosure and provide rhythm within the streetscape, the prevailing façade frontage ‘x’ should first be established from the streetscape analysis and street photographic survey (Figure 43). The following potential three scenarios may subsequently be envisaged (Figure 44): a) b)
If an infill (terraced) development has a plot frontage that is less than ‘x’, then an effort should be made to relate to the predominant horizontal lines generated from the neighbouring buildings. If an infill (terraced) development also has a plot frontage of ‘x’, or an exact factor
105