Updated guidance on ‘Design: process and tools’

The ‘Design: Process and Tools’ section of the Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) was originally published in March 2014 and has now been updated to introduce the new National Design Guide.

The National Design Guide was launched on 1st October and outlines 10 key characteristics and sets out what is considered good design in practice:

  • context
  • identity
  • built form
  • movement
  • nature
  • public spaces
  • uses
  • homes and buildings
  • resources
  • lifespan

A well-designed place graph

The PPG explains that “where the design of a development accords with clear expectations in plan policies, design should not be used by the decision-maker as a valid reason to object to development”.

The PPG also notes that local design guides should be informed by these 10 characteristics, therefore, future development would be expected to consider and reflect these in detail.

The National Design Guide (2019) has been produced for use by a range of stakeholders including local authority planning officers, councillors, applicants and people in local communities, as it can be used to both form and assess development proposals. The document directly aims to elaborate on and provide support to Paragraph 130 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2019) which states that permission should be refused for developments of poor design.

Please see the following link for further information: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/835212/National_Design_Guide.pdf


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