Policy information sourced from Camden Local Plan

D1 Design

The Council will seek to secure high quality design in development. The Council will require that development:

  • respects local context and character;
  • preserves or enhances the historic environment and heritage assets in accordance with Policy D2 Heritage;
  • is sustainable in design and construction, incorporating best practice in resource management and climate change mitigation and adaptation;
  • is of sustainable and durable construction and adaptable to different activities and land uses;
  • comprises details and materials that are of high quality and complement the local character;
  • integrates well with the surrounding streets and open spaces, improving movement through the site and wider area with direct, accessible and easily recognisable routes and contributes positively to the street frontage;
  • is inclusive and accessible for all;
  • promotes health;
  • is secure and designed to minimise crime and antisocial behaviour;
  • responds to natural features and preserves gardens and other open space;
  • incorporates high quality landscape design (including public art, where appropriate) and maximises opportunities for greening for example through planting of trees and other soft landscaping,
  • incorporates outdoor amenity space;
  • preserves strategic and local views;
  • for housing, provides a high standard of accommodation; and
  • carefully integrates building services equipment.

The Council will resist development of poor design that fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions.

Tall buildings

All of Camden is considered sensitive to the development of tall buildings. Tall buildings in Camden will be assessed against the design criteria set out above and we will also give particular attention to:

  • how the building relates to its surroundings, both in terms of how the base of the building fits in with the streetscape and how the top of a tall building affects the skyline;
  • the historic context of the building’s surroundings;
  • the relationship between the building and hills and views;
  • the degree to which the building overshadows public spaces, especially open spaces and watercourses; and
  • the contribution a building makes to pedestrian permeability and improved public accessibility.

In addition to these design considerations tall buildings will be assessed against a range of other relevant policies concerning amenity, mixed use and sustainability.

Public art

The Council will only permit development for artworks, statues or memorials where they protect and enhance the local character and historic environment and contribute to a harmonious and balanced landscape design.

Excellence in design

The Council expects excellence in architecture and design. We will seek to ensure that the significant growth planned for under Policy G1 Delivery and location of growth will be provided through high quality contextual design.

For more information please see the Local Plan