About this page
How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works
These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:
Policy background
- Relevant national policy or regulations
- National or regional trends
- Local situation and needs/li>
- How we have dealt with this issue in the past
- The thinking behind the policy
Policy options for the new Local Plan
We may suggest a variety of approaches:
- Keeping existing policy as it is
- Making small changes
- Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
- Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future
Policy option analysis
- A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.
Read the Heritage and Design Topic Paper for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.
Explore the policy
Select a section below to read more.
9.436 The NPPF (para 133-134) sets out local authorities should seek to provide maximum clarity about design expectations at an early stage. These paragraphs note the following:
‘para 133: … Design guides and codes provide a local framework for creating beautiful and distinctive places with a consistent and high-quality standard of design. Their geographic coverage, level of detail and degree of prescription should be tailored to the circumstances and scale of change in each place and should allow a suitable degree of variety.>
Para 134: Design guides and codes can be prepared at an area-wide, neighbourhood or site specific scale, and to carry weight in decision-making should be produced either as part of a plan or as supplementary planning documents.Landowners and developers may contribute to these exercises, but may also choose to prepare design codes in support of a planning application for sites they wish to develop.
Whoever prepares them, all guides and codes should be based on effective community engagement and reflect local aspirations for the development of their area, taking into account the guidance contained in the National Design Guide and the National Model Design Code. These national documents should be used to guide decisions on applications in the absence of locally produced design guides or design codes.’
9.437 The detailed background and evidence relating to the following options is set out in the Heritage and design Topic Paper.
9.438 Development of a policy with overarching design code principles. The design codes would be expected to include the following:
- Context - Local character and built heritage
- Movement - Design of the street network, active travel and public transport
- Nature - Design of green infrastructure, play spaces, SUDS and the protection of biodiversity
- Built Form - Density, built form and urban design
- Identity - character of buildings
- Public space - Design and of streets and public spaces
- Homes and Buildings - Type and tenure of homes
- Uses - Mix of uses and active frontage
- Resources - Environmental design, renewable energy provision and low energy networks
- Lifespan - Management and adoption standards
Option A
Development of a policy with overarching design code principles as outlined above.
Advantages of Option A
- Implementation of design codes will present a positive opportunity to engage with communities – particularly where there are large allocations.
- The approach will present wider master planning opportunities to support communities.
- Will present delivery requirements i.e., developments of greater significance owing to their scale, location, or impact on sensitive areas or important assets.
Disadvantages of Option A
None identified.