ChinatownLondon’s Chinatown is one of the largest centrally located Chinatown’s outside of East Asia and has a unique character and function which has been developed through careful land use planning. Rolfe Judd Planning have been responsible for managing planning consultancy advice across Chinatown supporting Shaftesbury’s active management of its wide range of shops, restaurants, bars, workspaces and residential apartments, all of which make the area such a vibrant part of the West End. Challenges arise through introduction of new uses and reconciling modern functions with heritage assets. Optimising property use with a view to balancing planning policy objectives with commercial aims of Shaftesbury has been central to our role.We have worked closely with Shaftesbury and the local community to ensure that, through careful planning, London’s Chinatown has evolved into a vibrant and thriving community, bringing in thousands of visitors to the shops and restaurants every day.Client: ShaftesburyLPA: City of WestminsterArchitect: VariousSectors: Community Entertainment and Leisure Mixed-Use