Westminster Council approves new strategy to cool summers in the city

Westminster Council has approved a new plan in an effort to make the borough cooler in the face of rising summer temperatures.

The “Cool Neighbourhoods Heat Resilience Strategy,” was signed off last month by Councillor Ryan Jude, cabinet member for ecology, culture and air quality.

The plan focuses on tackling extreme heat through practical changes, like designing and retrofitting buildings to prevent heat build up, and planting more trees to provide shade — creating “cool buildings”, “cool places” and “cool communities”.

Planting more trees — making sure they grow tall and wide enough to provide proper shade — is a simple but powerful way to cool down streets, parks and buildings. They also help improve air quality, reduce flood risk and make neighbourhoods more pleasant places to live.

The council says Westminster is becoming increasingly vulnerable to heat due to climate change, and that this poses real risks, particularly for older adults, young children, and people living in poorly ventilated or overcrowded homes.

In 2022, temperatures in parts of Westminster rose above 40 degrees C for the first time. As heatwaves become more frequent and more intense, the strategy sets out actions to protect residents and prepare the city for a warmer future.

Some parts of Westminster — often lower-income areas with more renters — have fewer trees and green spaces. These areas are more likely to suffer during extreme heat. The council says it will focus tree planting in these neighbourhoods first to make the changes fairer and more effective.

“By building climate resilience, we can provide a safer, healthier environment for everyone, particularly those most vulnerable to the effects of heat,” says Councillor Jude.

As part of this approach, the council plans not only the planting of trees on streets but also to add greenery to rooftops, walls, and courtyards. They will encourage developers and landlords to include more plants and green spaces in new buildings and renovations. The Cool Neighbourhoods plan highlights that even small patches of green can make a big difference in reducing heat.

To achieve this, the council is encouraging local people to play an active role in shaping their neighbourhoods. It will work with neighbourhood forums, schools, and residents to identify tree-planting locations and help care for new greenery. Community groups will also have a say in what kinds of trees are planted and where they should go, making the strategy a shared effort between the council and the people who live and work in Westminster.

Just 16.17 per cent of Westminster is covered by urban tree canopy cover, much lower than the London average of 21 per cent but similar to the UK average of 16 per cent.

However, the UK is much worse off than the European average for tree cover of 38 per cent, according to a report by Friends of the Earth in 2023.

Westminster Council plans a rather modest “10 per cent increase of existing cover by 2050” according to the tree planting strategy.

Friends of the Earth says local councils should aim to double tree cover by 2050 and says that Bristol City and Hackney councils have already committed to this target.

Westminster plans to track and measure the success of the strategy by mapping out existing tree cover, keeping a record of how many new trees are planted, and monitoring how much cooler different neighbourhoods become over time. The council has also committed to sharing regular progress reports with the public.

Westminster Council, Cool Neighbourhoods Heat Resilience Strategy.

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