Cheers, yup, I've been messing around for a few days trying to find optimal workflow, main concern is getting all this detail into the map without killing the FPS, I guess I won't know until I get to it.
There are more lamposts than trees so probably will need to be on Y planes or flat planes, I'll have a better idea once a substantial part of the meshes are done.
There's more detail in half the Champs Elysees alone than in most tracks
re: reference, most definitely, there are a few areas I could do with some good photo's taken for reference purposes, NOT "tourist" style

, definitely no photo bombing
Louvre fountains for example, intricate models that will need good detailed textures, so will require photo's from an angle suitable for texturing, orthographic as possible, good even lighting, no dof or focus etc.