Policy information sourced from the Guildford Local Plan: Develpment Managment Policies
D4: Achieving High Quality Design and Respecting Local Distinctiveness
Development proposals are required to demonstrate how they will achieve the ten characteristics of well-designed places as set out in the National Design Guide:
- Context - enhances the surroundings
- Identity - attractive and distinctive
- Built form - a coherent pattern of development
- Movement - accessible and easy to move around
- Nature - enhanced and optimised
- Public space - safe, social and inclusive
- Uses - mixed and integrated
- Homes and buildings - functional, healthy and sustainable
- Resources - efficient and resilient
- Lifespan - made to last
Development proposals are required to have regard to relevant national and local design guidance or codes.
Development proposals are required to incorporate high quality design which should contribute to local distinctiveness by demonstrating a clear understanding of the place. Development proposals should respond positively to:
- the history of a place;
- significant views (to and from);
- surrounding context;
- built and natural features of interest;
- prevailing character;
- landscape; and
- topography.
The use of innovative design approaches, including use of materials and construction techniques, will be supported where this presents an opportunity to create new or complementary identities that contributes to and enhances local character.
Development proposals are expected to demonstrate high quality design at the earliest stages of the design process, and then through the evolution of the scheme, including in relation to:
- Layout - settlement pattern of roads, paths, spaces and buildings, urban grain, plot sizes, building patterns, rhythms and lines
- Form and scale of buildings and spaces - height, bulk, massing, proportions, profile and roofscapes
- Appearance
- Landscape - landform and drainage, hard landscape and soft landscape
- Materials
- Detailing
Development proposals are required to reflect appropriate residential densities that are demonstrated to result from a design-led approach taking into account factors including:
- the site size, characteristics and location;
- the urban grain of the area and appropriate building forms, heights and sizes for the site; and
- the context and local character of the area.
Development proposals are expected to make efficient use of land and increased densities may be appropriate if it would not have a detrimental impact on an area’s prevailing character and setting.
Development proposals are expected to be designed so as not to hinder the potential future delivery of adjoining development sites.
Masterplanning and Design Codes
Strategic sites listed in LPSS 2019 Policy D1(13) are required to produce masterplans and follow a Design Code approach through the planning application process. This will require a Design Code to be agreed prior to the granting of full or reserved matters planning permission for any phase of the development. Where outline planning permission has been agreed subject to Design Code agreement, any relevant Reserved Matters applications which are submitted without the Design Code being agreed will be refused.
Masterplans and Design Codes will also be required for any site that will be developed in more than one phase or by more than one developer. Failure to agree a Design Code approach is likely to result in the refusal of an application.
A design code will be required for any other site or part of a site where it is considered necessary to set design parameters.
For more information please see the Local Plan