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The Georgian terraces we love so much, and the streets themselves, were far from a natural occurrence, but rather a result of various Acts, mainly the Building Act of 1774. It sorted houses into four rates and specified the street width according to the height of the houses. 
It was meant to prevent poor quality construction and reduce the risk of fire, but it was criticized for stifling creativity. Benjamin Disraeli blamed the Act for "all those flat, dull spiritless streets all resembling each other, like a large family of plain children."
The insurance industry was at the heart of the Act, having lobbied for many years for greater formalization of the building industry. The Act was very specific even about construction details, as seen in this drawing of external walls. we-aggregate.org/piece/mammoths…
Various acts have also had an impact on window design: the 1709 London Building Act required a 4 inch set back to prevent the spread of fires. After the 1774 London Building Act, the sash box had to be hidden behind the reveal to prevent the sash falling out in a fire.
