Place making

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To ensure that the most sustainable sites are used for development and that the design process, layout structure and form provide a development that is appropriate to the local context and supports a sustainable community.

Read the background on Place making

Question 3.1

Objective

To ensure the most effective and efficient use of land, applying a sequential approach.

Importance:

Question

How can the site be best characterised? (N.B. For biodiversity issues see the Ecology section)

Contaminated land – remediated or awaiting remediation
Brownfield – derelict urban land
Undeveloped – Includes residential gardens.
Other: including brownfield – rural land, designated open space, designated sports pitches or recreation land, green belt, high quality agricultural land, land designated as of ecological importance, land with workable or potentially workable minerals

Targets and Justification

Best: B or A
Good: C
Minimum: ---

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.2

Objective

To ensure the efficient and sensitive use of appropriate land.

Importance:

Question

Percentage of site footprint to be enhanced as open space.

Targets and Justification

Best: 50%
Good: 25%
Minimum: ---

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.3

Objective

To ensure effective re-use of appropriate or suitable buildings to restore and strengthen the area's character (rural or urban).

Importance:

Question

What percentage of the existing buildings on site will be re-used/ refurbished? (N.B. Building refurbishment should be favoured over new build where possible)

Targets and Justification

Best: 100%
Good: > 50%
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.4

Objective

To ensure that the preparation of a statement of design intent, that is informed by studies of the site and its surroundings, is discussed with the appropriate parties prior to finalisation.

Importance:

Question

Will a design statement, incorporating the findings of context appraisals and explaining emerging design principles be discussed with the Local Authority prior to the application?

Targets and Justification

Best: Yes and involving Design Champions and referencing Urban Design Compendium (English Partnerships)
Good: Yes - building on context appraisals that include the existing landscape (rural or urban) and ecological asset studies, surrounding and prospective community and demographic appraisal. The design statement should incorporate a rural settlement character
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.5

Objective

To ensure that the landscaping scheme is attractive and appropriate to the local environment.

Importance:

Question

Will a landscaping scheme be drawn up for the site – to include POS, street scenes, public/private space boundaries and site boundaries, with landscape, ecological and historical assets preserved?

Targets and Justification

Best: Drawn up with landscape architect AND ecologist
Good: Drawn up with landscape architect
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.6

Objective

To ensure that the character of the landscape and townscape is respected and, whenever and wherever possible, enhanced through appropriate location and design.

Importance:

Question

Will the design statement, incorporating information relating to the landscape and townscape character of the surrounding area, be discussed with the Local Authority prior to the application?

Targets and Justification

Best: Not yet defined
Good: Input from Landscape Character Specialist
Minimum: See relevant LA standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.7

Objective

To achieve visual and physical connectivity that makes it easy to find the development and to navigate around.

Importance:

Question

Are there physical and visual links between the development and the surrounding area, and how do they integrate the development with the surrounding area?

Are new routes into the site continuations of existing access points from the surrounding area?
How direct are sight lines of existing neighbourhood streets continued through the site?
Are main routes within the site connected directly to main routes in the wider area without feeding through existing routes with less capacity or with a primarily residential function?

Targets and Justification

Best: Yet to be established
Good: A design strategy addressing all three issues
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.8

Objective

To make cycle movement in addition to pedestrian movement attractive and safe, reducing reliance upon private cars for local journeys.

Importance:

Question

Will the proposed street network provide a high quality public realm with a pedestrian friendly environment?

Has a choice of good pedestrian routes connecting to services and places people want to use been provided?
Are pedestrian routes direct with safe crossings at points where pedestrians want to cross?
Has a design strategy been produced to ensure that pedestrian routes are attractive, well-lit and safe?
Will street design calm traffic where appropriate?

Targets and Justification

Best: Yet to be established
Good: A design strategy that addresses all the listed issues
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.9

Objective

To create a place with a clear identity that is easy to understand and navigate.

Importance:

Question

Will the development be designed to be easy for users to understand and orientate themselves in, and does it promote a neighbourhood identity?

Will entrances to the development and its different areas been designed as gateways?
Will landmarks, including memorable buildings, be used to help users orientate themselves?
Will clear views and deflected views of landmarks been created?
Will corner buildings be heightened or building line altered through set backs to act as landmarks?
Will nodes be emphasised through surface treatment?

Targets and Justification

Best: Yet to be established
Good: A design strategy that addresses all the above issues
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.10

Objective

To ensure that building frontages encourage pedestrian usage of streets contributing to vitality.

Importance:

Question

Will the ‘Active Frontage Guidelines’ of the English Partnerships Urban Design Compendium be met in order to promote vitality? Note active frontages means encouraging pedestrian entrances and exits onto streets, which are frequently used.

Targets and Justification

Best: 100% achieves at least Grade C frontage, 50% Grade A
Good: 100% achieves at least Grade C frontage, 25% Grade A
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.11

Objective

To create defensible spaces that clearly define public and private spaces.

Importance:

Question

Will the development make a clear distinction between public fronts and private backs, allowing for secure gardens or parking, or delivery access at the rear and an overlooked, safe public realm?

Targets and Justification

Best: 100% frontages onto street, 0% exposed backs
Good: 100% building frontages face onto street
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.12

Objective

To ensure that the development responds to local character whilst reinforcing its own identity.

Importance:

Question

Will the appearance of the development be visually appropriate, taking into consideration the local character, and will it complement the character of the location (e.g. urban or rural) whilst creating a strong identity for the new neighbourhood?

Building materials and colour complementing local character
Building style and form enhancing local character
Roofscapes visually respecting the developments location within a local context
Continuity of local building details such as windows and doors
Residential component of the development fostering a potential for personalisation by prospective residents
Contemporary approach to reflecting the local vernacular

Targets and Justification

Best: Yes to 1–6
Good: Yes to 1–5
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.13

Objective

To ensure access to high quality public green space for all.

Importance:

Question

How far will the local community have to travel to reach high quality public green space?

Targets and Justification

Best: Minimum and Good practice plus ANGsT standard met
Good: 100% of dwellings are within 500m of designated public green space where children can play
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.14

Objective

To promote outdoor recreation, health and community interaction.

Importance:

Question

Will there be provision of accessible play space for the new development and will the development promote opportunities for sport and physical activity through good design?

Targets and Justification

Best: Exceeds the good practice guide's requirements
Good: Meets good practice guide "Developing accessible play space: a good practice guide" DCLG
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.15

Objective

To ensure that new commercial or light industrial buildings can be adapted to the demands of new uses.

Importance:

Question

Will flexibility be designed into commercial or light industrial units to provide adaptability to changing market needs?

Optimum adaptability to future use changes in terms of building depth (9-13m)
Optimum adaptability to future uses in terms of building width (5-7m frontages) or multiples of
Floor to floor heights to allow for vertical segregation of mixed uses and provide adaptability for future changes of use

Targets and Justification

Best: As for good practice but for all commercial units
Good: A design strategy which addresses points 1 - 3 for some commercial units
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.16

Objective

To prevent social inequalities and foster a socially inclusive community.

Importance:

Question

Will the affordable housing be indistinguishable from the rest of the development in terms of aesthetics and distribution?

Targets and Justification

Best: Not yet defined
Good: Yes
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.17

Objective

To attract a diverse new community that reflects the surrounding demographic needs.

Importance:

Question

Will a statement be prepared explaining how the development contributes to the required mix of housing for the area, in terms of type, size, tenure and reflecting the needs of the current and prospective community demographics?

Targets and Justification

Best: Not yet defined
Good: Yes
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.18

Objective

To apply design principles to increase the security of the development.

Importance:

Question

Will development be designed to ‘Secure By Design’ or equivalent standards?

Targets and Justification

Best: Good practice PLUS use of Community Development Trust knowledge database (or equivalent) to monitor and set targets for crime reduction
Good: Secure By Design plus involvement of a Police Architectural Liaison Officer (ALO) or Crime Reduction Design Officer (CRDO)
Minimum: Evidence of Secure By Design strategy

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.19

Objective

To ensure that street lighting is as energy efficient as possible and to minimise light spillage.

Importance:

Question

How much of the street lighting will be energy efficient with limited upward light transmission?

Targets and Justification

Best: As good practice plus renewable energy generation
Good: 100% low powered street lighting with limited upward light transmission
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Question 3.20

Objective

To ensure that the security lighting is a carefully designed element, installed with due consideration of its suitability for the task and its effect on neighbours and the environment.

Importance:

Question

Will the security lighting strategy be designed to minimise light pollution and disruption to neighbours?

Targets and Justification

Best: Good practice plus: Domestic external security lighting designed into dwellings and provided by developer
Good: Appropriate lighting type, position, footprint, timings and duration planned into security lighting systems
Minimum: See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Policy Links

RSS

CF3: Levels and distribution of housing development;
CF4: The reuse of land and buildings for housing;
CF5: Delivering affordable housing and mixed communities;
CF6: Managing housing land provision;
EN2: Energy Conservation;
PA2: Urban Regeneration Zones;
PA5: Employment Areas in Need of Modernisation & Renewal;
QE1: Conserving and enhancing the environment;
QE2: Restoring degraded areas and managing and creating high employment;
QE3: Creating a high quality built environment for all;
QE4: Spaces;
QE5: Protection and enhancement of the Historic Environment;
QE6: The conservation, enhancement and restoration of the Region’s landscape;
QE7: Protecting, managing and enhancing the Region’s biodiversity;
T1: Developing accessibility and mobility within the Region to support the RSS;
T2: Reducing the need to travel; T3: Walking and Cycling;
T3: Walking and Cycling;
T5: Public Transport;
T7: Car Parking Standards & Management;
T9: The Management & Devlopment of National & Regional Transport Networks;
UR1: Implementing Urban Renaissance;
UR4: Social Infrastructure;
PA12: Birmingham’s Role as a World City;
PPG 3.

RHS

Chapter 4;
Chapter 7.

Development sizes

The checklist has been split into three different versions for different sizes of development:

Small: Up to 10 dwellings
Medium: 11 - 999 dwellings
Up to 999 dwellings (mixed use)
Large: 1,000 - 5,999 dwellings
1,000 - 5,999 dwellings (mixed)

If the development is for more than 6,000 houses, we recommend a bespoke checklist should be produced by the developer and local authority.

The set of questions for smaller developments is contained within the set of questions for larger developments.