Planning Advice Note 1 SECURITY CAMERAS. Building Security. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Department of Planning & Transportation

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1 SECURITY CAMERAS Building Security Planning Advice Note 1 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Department of Planning & Transportation

2 Contents Introduction What do the policies mean? What needs to be considered? Is an application required? What must I submit? Contacts Your comments

3 Introduction If you are ordering, designing, supplying or installing security cameras and CCTV equipment for a location in the City, this leaflet has been written to help you. It explains the Corporation s planning policies, what needs to be considered when the installation is being designed, when applications are required and how to make them. The benefits of installing modern security cameras are now widely recognised and many businesses, including the Corporation, have installed this equipment. There are many buildings, spaces, areas and views in the City that are important in many ways which make this is a very attractive place in which to work, live and visit. These need to be considered carefully when making any changes to the appearance of buildings and spaces. This leaflet emphasises how important it is that all CCTV equipment is well designed and located carefully. If not, it can be unattractive and harm either the appearance of the building to which it is fixed or the wider area. In an area as important as the City, striking a balance between the demand for new or additional equipment and the high architectural quality of its buildings can sometimes be difficult.

4 CCTV SECURITY CAMERAS Always contact the Department of Planning and Transportation before making any major decisions that will affect the potential size, appearance or location of proposed security cameras. Informal advice is freely available and may save you time, inconvenience and unnecessary expense. Never install any equipment without checking first whether or not planning permission and listed building consent need to be applied for. What do the policies mean? The Corporation expects all new equipment to be designed to respect the architectural design of the building to which it is fixed and the existing appearance of the City. When carefully located and well installed, security cameras can be fixed to most buildings successfully and will not detract from the appearance of the building or its surrounding area. Where planning permission is required, the Corporation will consider the impact of the installation on the character, appearance or amenities of the building or area. If the site is also in a conservation area, the Corporation must consider whether the proposals would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of that area. The size, colour and appearance of the equipment, the way it is installed and location are all carefully considered in all cases. If the proposals affect a listed building, the Corporation has to pay particular attention to the effect they would have upon the particular importance of the building itself. Listed building consent will normally be granted where the installation does not detract from the building s special architectural or historic interest. Painting the equipment to match the background building material can also reduce the effect it has upon the building s appearance. The Corporation s planning policies are contained in the City of London Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

5 What needs to be considered? When the installation of security cameras forms part of a range of security measures, the whole of the scheme should be considered at the same time. Similarly, developers and their architects are encouraged to provide for the security needs of future occupiers when designing a new building. This approach reduces the problem of equipment being added on a piecemeal basis. There are many alternative systems available and careful thought should be given to the size and quantity of the equipment proposed. Before making any decisions, please bear the following points in mind: CCTV SECURITY CAMERAS Discussion with CCTV specialists at an appropriate stage in the design process will reduce potential problems later and should save time and expense. Early consultation with the Department of Planning and Transportation is also particularly helpful. If several areas need to be covered by one location it may, in some cases, be better to consider the installation of several smaller, individual cameras. These can be less unattractive than a camera that is motorised and has a larger bracket so that it can be moved to pan and tilt. A smaller camera and fixings will have less effect on the appearance of the building Associated equipment such as motors, infra-red or other lamps, cables and conduits, and water storage containers with wash-wipe facilities will have a cumulative and potentially harmful impact on the appearance of a building or area. Always choose a location for the equipment so that the effect it has on the building s appearance is minimised from all viewpoints. Sometimes the best place will be on the building s upper storeys where cameras are less noticeable or within recesses and window reveals where they can be partially hidden from view. Another solution might be to locate the camera at a higher level on an adjoining building that overlooks the surveillance area. There are examples in the City where reciprocal arrangements have been made and the City of London Police supports this approach. Where cameras are proposed for general street surveillance, applicants and installers are encouraged to discuss them with the Department of Planning and Transportation, the City of London Police and the owners and occupiers of adjoining buildings. This should result in a mutually agreed scheme and avoid unnecessary duplication of cameras doing the same job. Lighting levels in the City are generally sufficient for a CCTV system to operate without the need for infra-red or other lighting units. Advice on lighting levels in the City is obtainable from the City Engineer s Department. Long cable runs across the façade of a building can be unsightly. Wherever possible, take the cables into the building directly behind the camera installation. If this cannot be done, make sure that cables do not run across features such as cornices or other architectural decoration. When having to run cables across the face of the building, always make use of convenient recesses in the building design to reduce the effect on the building s appearance.

6 CCTV SECURITY CAMERAS The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Amendment) (England) 2001 includes permitted development rights concerning the installation of CCTV equipment. These rights mean that, within certain limits, CCTV cameras can be installed without having to obtain planning permission. This is subject to two conditions: Is an application required? It is your responsibility, as building owner or representative, to obtain the appropriate approval before any CCTV equipment is installed. Planning permission for CCTV cameras is now only required where: the building upon which the camera would be installed, altered or replaced is a listed building or scheduled monument; the camera including its housing is larger than 75 centimetres by 25 centimetres by 25 centimetres; The camera is located so that it minimises its effect on the external appearance of the building as much as possible. The camera is removed as soon as possible after it is no longer needed. Outside these limits planning permission must be applied for in the normal way. any part of the camera would be less than 250 centimetres above ground when installed, altered or replaced; any part of the camera would, when installed, altered or replaced,project from the surface of the building by more than one metre. The measurement is taken between the face of the building andthe maximum projection of the installation and applies to new cameras as well as the alteration to, or replacement of, an existing camera any equipment that forms part of a camera installation would be located more than one metre away from the camera itself; any part of a camera would be less than ten metres from any part of another camera on the same building; where there would be more than four cameras on the same side of the building; where there would be more a total of more than sixteen cameras on the same building. Where planning permission is required, early consultation with this Department before you submit your application can help to speed the process. Listed building consent will be required where proposed equipment would affect the character of a building listed for special architectural or historic interest and may be required as well as planning permission. The Department of Planning and Transportation can advise which approvals are required if you are uncertain.

7 What must I submit? Your application must include the following: A plan clearly showing the location of the proposed site. A plan of the whole building indicating the exact location of the proposal. CCTV SECURITY CAMERAS A drawing of the building elevation(s) showing the precise location, the method of mounting the equipment and its relationship to surrounding architectural detail. This may mean that the whole building elevation has to be shown, although sometimes it will only be necessary to show part of the building. In all cases the drawings should be drawn to an appropriate scale and include all relevant measurements and full details of any related cables. Technical specifications, which should provide exact details of size, appearance, projection and method of fixing, and the proposed finishes of the equipment. Where manufacturers material includes illustrations or photographs of the equipment, this can help us assess how the proposals will affect the building s appearance. If the camera will project over the public highway which includes most pavements you may need to apply for a licence from the City Engineer s Department. The relevant forms. Photographs of the proposed location for the equipment will also be useful. Three copies of the forms must be submitted, along with four copies of all the drawings and the appropriate application fee. All this material is essential in assessing the application. Although a site visit will usually take place, remember that the final decision will be based upon what your application tells us. Good clear drawings and helpful, informative details will enable the Corporation to understand and assess your proposals more quickly.