Policy information sourced from Harpenden Neighbourhood Plan

ESD1 – Design Strategy

All developments must be visually attractive, designed to a high quality; maintain or enhance the character of the area and support Harpenden as a low carbon place to live and work.

For major developments in the Neighbourhood Plan Area, a Design Brief must be prepared and submitted in support of the planning application. The Design Brief should demonstrate consideration of the following (where applicable) in addition to the requirements of the other policies of this Neighbourhood Plan:

  • Promotion of sustainable development, sustainable use of resources, green technologies and high levels of energy efficiency in order to minimise the impact on the environment of delivering the development and of the residents or users of the developments thereafter.
  • How the development will promote sustainable living for housing developments and sustainable use for non-residential developments.
  • Facilities made available for pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Location, type and management of open space, leisure and recreation facilities
  • Protection against the loss of or significant harm to ecological or landscape value or, in the event of loss or significant harm, the provision of appropriate mitigation to address the loss or harm. If the Local Planning Authority deems that appropriate mitigation cannot be achieved, compensatory measures may be acceptable in addition to (not instead of) the maximum achievable mitigation
  • A proportionate assessment of views to and from the proposed development and key views of townscape, including how views of landmark and gateway buildings, and important landscape features will be retained or enhanced. Visual impact should be minimised through the design of the site layout, buildings and landscape.
  • Materials palette (if it is not possible to indicate exact materials then a broad type should be specified).
  • How the development is sensitive to and makes a positive contribution to the local character of the area.
  • How permeability of land surface has been maintained and / or enhanced in the development and how the development is using sustainable solutions to reduce flood risk.
  • How the water efficiency standard for housing, as set out in Policy ESD19, has been applied.
  • How best practice measures have been used to avoid pollution to air, water and soil.
  • Environmental performance. An environmental performance and sustainability statement (demonstrating how environmental issues have been fully considered in the location, site layout, general design, building design and construction and future use of the development) is required. This should be related to advice provided by the Hertfordshire Building Futures Design Toolkit.

Developments must be implemented in accordance with the principles set out in the Design Brief. Applicants are encouraged to engage with Harpenden Town Council / Rural Parish Council (whichever is applicable) to discuss the contents of the Design Brief.

For more information please see the Neighbourhood Plan