Policy information sourced from the Chelmsford Local Plan 2013-2036 PDF.

DM24: Design and Place Shaping Principles in Major Developments.

The Council will require all new major development to be of high quality built form and urban design.

All new major development should reflect the following principles:

  • Respect the historic and natural environment of biodiversity and amenity interests through the provision of a range of green spaces;
  • Respond positively to local character and context to preserve and enhance the quality of existing communities;
  • Provide buildings that exhibit architectural quality;
  • Create well-connected places that prioritise the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport services above the use of the private car;
  • Where possible, provide a mix of land uses and densities with well-defined public and private spaces;
  • Encourage site design and individual building design that minimises energy consumption and provides resilience to a changing climate;
  • Create attractive, multi-functional, inclusive, overlooked and well-maintained public realm, and enhance the setting of existing public realm;
  • Embed public art as an integral part of proposals;
  • Provide streets and spaces that are overlooked, active and promote inclusive access;
  • Include parking facilities that are well integrated as part of the overall design;
  • Provide public open space and contribute to green infrastructure;
  • Retain existing trees and other landscape features where appropriate and explore opportunities for new tree planting;
  • Provide opportunities to promote healthy living and to improve health and wellbeing.

The Council will require the use of masterplans by developers and will implement design codes where appropriate for strategic scale developments. The Council will consider the use of Planning Briefs and Design Codes on other development sites.

Where relevant, new residential development must be in accordance with the standards as set out in Appendix B, unless it can be demonstrated that the particular site circumstances require a different design approach to allow for a lower provision.

For more information, please visit Chelmsford’s Local Plan here.