Policy information sourced from the Merton Estates Local Plan.

OEP3 Urban Design Principles

Development proposals will be expected to adhere to all of the principles listed below to ensure that they achieve the highest standards of urban design, accessibility and inclusive design:

  1. Perimeter blocks: Buildings should be arranged so that the fronts face outwards, towards the street;
  2. Active frontages: Building entrances and windows onto the street should be maximised;
  3. Building lines: Boundaries should clearly define the fronts of buildings, create spaces and define routes;
  4. Landscaping: High quality usable public and communal space and landscaping should be provided and opportunities taken to provide effective management of flood risk from all sources whilst ensuring no increase in flood risk elsewhere;
  5. Defensible space: The transition from public to private space should be understandable and clearly defined;
  6. Community safety: Provide well-defined routes with spaces and entrances promoting convenient movement without compromising security. Secured by Design principles should be used to enhance community safety and help design out crime, provide well-defined routes with spaces and entrances, promoting convenient movement without compromising security so improve access and movement;
  7. Promoting biodiversity: Promoting the variety of plants, animals and other living things found in an area;
  8. Inclusive and active design: Development proposals should encompass the needs of everyone and provide opportunities for healthy and active lifestyle choices
  9. Promoting sustainable development: Promoting the efficient use of resources that does not prejudice future generations from meeting their own needs;
  10. Density: Using high quality design to determine an appropriate density for an area;
  11. Permeable, legible and accessible layouts: Arrangement of streets and buildings that offer a convenient choice of routes that are easy to understand.
  12. Parking provision: Vehicular parking that is provided on-street as a first choice, well managed and integrated into the rest of the street;
  13. Local context (heritage, buildings, materials interpretation, art): Using the local context, including heritage and good quality design to inform the design and appearance of new development.

Design Review must be embedded into the development process for the regeneration of the estates. Masterplans and proposals for all phases of development on each estate must be reviewed at least once by the Council’s Design Review Panel.

For more information, please see the Estates Local Plan.