The government has published updated new build design guidance which it says will ‘raise the bar’ for developments, ensuring they are well-connected to local shops and services and resilient to climate change.
A consultation has been launched by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG) to gather feedback on the guidance, which the government department says will help it to understand whether the guidance is accessible, usable and supports effective design.
The guidance aims to ensure all new build developments focus on design quality and create places of lasting value. It sets out how the government believes the next generation of homes should be built to reflect modern life, including space to work from home and flexible layouts that can adapt to growing families.
Councils and developers will be expected to use the guidance to make visible improvements, including calmer streets, less traffic and improved green spaces. New builds should also be able to adapt to climate change, the guidance says, with adequate shade and minimal flood risk.
The guidance also supports the creation of local jobs and amenities by design, with local shops and essential services such as GP surgeries within walking distance of neighbourhoods.
The government also intends to create model design codes, with clear rules for creating successful places, to support smaller developers and set realistic expectations on larger developments.
Local authorities will set clear design expectations for their areas through local plans, using masterplans, local design codes and guides.
“Part of the biggest planning rewrite in over a decade, the new design guidance aims to provide clarity early in the process to avoid costly delays to schemes and ramp up housebuilding and help deliver 1.5 million high-quality homes this parliament,” MHCLG said in a statement.
Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook added:
“Exemplary development should be the norm not the exception so that more communities feel the benefits of new development and welcome it.
“As we act to boost housing supply, we are also taking steps to improve the design and quality of the homes and neighbourhoods being built.
“These standards will help ensure new homes and neighbourhoods are attractive, well-connected, sustainable, and built to last.”
The guidance builds on wider planning reforms and forms part of a new rules-based system, in which developers meeting clear standards can move quickly from the planning stages to development.
Anna Rose, head of the Planning Advisory Service, said the updated guidance provides a “clear and welcome benchmark”. She added:
“Through our work supporting councils and regional design advocates, PAS sees how strong local design leadership can raise standards and deliver more liveable neighbourhoods. This guidance will be an invaluable tool in helping local authorities embed quality early in the planning process and support the delivery of high-quality homes and places.”
Estate agent body Propertymark said it welcomes the government’s commitment to ensure new housing developments bring a revitalised approach to structuring new communities from the ground upwards.
“Developing new communities alongside delivering wide-ranging local services, transport links, and key community infrastructure is vital to creating sustainable and thriving neighbourhoods that people aspire to live in,” Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns said.
Equally important, Douglas added, is developing a “professionalised and qualified estate agency structure” to support the new build market.
“Propertymark looks forward to continuing to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government on reforming home buying and selling, and introducing minimum operating standards across the property sector to enhance standards regarding consumer protection. By combining high-quality design and build standards, well-thought-out infrastructure, and robust professional standards, we can help ensure that new developments are not only meeting housing targets but also genuinely constructing future-proof communities for generations to come.”
The consultation is open until 10 March.
Open consultation: Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance
