Policy information sourced from the Braintree District Council Local Plan 2013-2033.

LPP 52: Layout and Design of Development.

The Council will seek a high standard of layout and design in all developments in the District and encourage innovative design where appropriate. Planning permission will be granted where the relevant following criteria are met:

  • a. The scale, layout, height and massing of buildings and overall elevation design should reflect or enhance the area’s local distinctiveness and shall be in harmony with the character and appearance of the surrounding area; including their form, scale and impact on the skyline and the building line;
  • b. Buildings and structures should be of high architectural quality, be of a proportion, composition, scale and orientation that enhances, activates and appropriately defines the public realm and comprise details and materials that complement, but not necessarily replicate, the local architectural character;
  • c. There shall be no unacceptable impact on the amenity of any nearby properties including on privacy, overshadowing, loss of light and overbearing impact;
  • d. The public realm including buildings, open areas, circulation spaces, and other townscape and landscape features shall be of a high standard of design and materials and they shall be consistent with affordable long term maintenance which is appropriate to the character and historic value of the area;
  • e. Designs shall be sensitive to the need to conserve and enhance local features of architectural, historic and landscape importance, particularly within Conservation Areas and in proximity to heritage assets;
  • f. Development proposals will incorporate measures for environmental sustainability throughout the construction, occupation and demolition of the development; in relation to energy conservation, water efficiency, waste separation (internal and external), climate change, flood resilience and resistant construction and the use of materials with low overall energy requirements;
  • g. Designs shall incorporate details of waste storage and collection arrangements, including provision for recycling, within the site to ensure that the impact on amenity and character are considered and recycling is optimised;
  • h. Designs and layouts shall promote a safe and secure environment, crime reduction and prevention, and shall encourage the related objective of enhancing personal safety with the maximum amount of natural surveillance of roads, paths and all other open areas and all open spaces incorporated into schemes;
  • i. Landscape proposals should consist of native plant species and their design shall promote and enhance local biodiversity and historic environmental assets. Biodiversity net gain in line with the requirements of national policy through the provision of new priority habitat where appropriate is encouraged. Development layouts must be appropriately designed to accommodate structural tree and hedge planting and ensure that future interference with highway safety, roads, pavements, services and properties is minimised;
  • j. The design and level of any lighting proposals will need to be in context with the local area, comply with national policy and avoid or minimise glare, spill and light pollution on local amenity, intrinsically dark landscapes and nature conservation;
  • k. Use of sustainable modes of transport are promoted in the design and layout of new development. The highway impact shall be assessed and the resultant traffic generation and its management shall seek to address safety concerns. Developments which will result in a severe impact upon the highway network (taking into account cumulative impacts) will be refused unless they can be effectively mitigated;
  • l. Proposals for the long-term maintenance of public areas and landscaping are included;
  • m. The development proposed should not have a detrimental impact on the safety of highways or any other public right of way, and its users;
  • n. Developments shall be legible and accessible to all and create or contribute to a coherent sense of place that is well articulated and visually interesting and welcoming;
  • o. Developments shall be permeable and well-connected to walking and cycling networks, open spaces and facilities;
  • p. Residential developments shall provide a high standard of accommodation and amenity for all prospective occupants;
  • q. Developments should avoid single aspect dwellings that are: North facing; exposed to noise categories C or D; or contain three or more bedrooms. Where single aspect dwellings are proposed, the designer should demonstrate how good levels of ventilation, daylight and privacy will be provided to each habitable room;
  • r. The provision of private outdoor amenity space shall be provided having regard to the standards set out in the Essex Design Guide, or its successor, and shall be accessible, usable and well-related to the development;
  • s. Development proposals should demonstrate that adequate foul water treatment and disposal already exists or can be provided in time to serve the development.

For more information, please visit Braintree District Council’s Local Plan here.