Policy information sourced from the East Herts District Plan

DES4 Design of Development

All development proposals, including extensions to existing buildings, must be of a high standard of design and layout to reflect and promote local distinctiveness. Proposals will be expected to:

  • Make the best possible use of the available land by respecting or improving upon the character of the site and the surrounding area, in terms of its scale, height, massing (volume, shape), orientation, siting, layout, density, building materials (colour, texture), landscaping, environmental assets, and design features, having due regard to the design opportunities and constraints of a site;
  • Incorporate homes, buildings and neighbourhoods that are flexible to future adaptation, including the changing needs of occupants and users, and changes in wider employment and social trends;
  • Avoid significant detrimental impacts on the amenity of occupiers of neighbouring properties and land, and ensure that their environments are not harmed by noise and disturbance or by inadequate daylight, privacy or overshadowing;
  • Incorporate high quality innovative design, new technologies and construction techniques, including zero or low carbon energy and water efficient, design and sustainable construction methods. Proposals for residential and commercial development should seek to make appropriate provision for high speed broadband connectivity, ensuring that Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is provided;
  • Make provision for the storage of bins and ancillary household equipment. Garages and driveways should be capable of accommodating family sized vehicles. Dwelling design and layout should make provision for electric vehicle charging points in safe and accessible locations;
  • All new residential developments should meet the requirements of Policy HOU7, and ensure all internal rooms are of an appropriate size and dimension so that the intended function of each room can be satisfactorily achieved. All dwellings shall be identified by their square metreage.

Proposals must not prejudice the development opportunities of surrounding sites.

Development proposals which create new or have a significant impact on the public realm should:

  • Maximise legibility and accessibility of the public realm through the layout of buildings, landmarks, use of colour, landscaping, paving, high quality public art, street furniture and infrastructure including clear and legible signposting, rest places and public toilets, in a way that maintains uncluttered spaces and enables easy navigation and movement through the space;
  • Maximise opportunities for urban greening, for example through planting of trees and other soft landscaping wherever possible;
  • Avoid creating ‘left-over’ spaces with no clear purpose or function;
  • Ensure that long-term maintenance and management arrangements are in place for the public realm as appropriate.
  • Engage the Hertfordshire Design Review Panel as part of the Pre-application stage and throughout the Development Management process where appropriate.

For more information please see the District Plan