Policy information sourced from the Waltham Forest Local Plan

53 Delivering High Quality Design

Development proposals will be supported where they:

A. Achieve appropriate intensification in line with Policy 8 ‘Character-Led Intensification’;

B. Explore the benefits of land assembly and/or coordinated development where appropriate;

C. Deliver the benefits of cohesive, high quality design through the use of masterplans or similar approaches;

D. Demonstrate clearly how the proposal responds to the design principles and framework(s) set out in the relevant national, area neighbourhood, or site-specific design guides and/or design codes;

E. Reinforce and/or enhance local character and distinctiveness, taking into account existing patterns of development, townscape, skyline, urban form and grain, building typologies, architecture, materials, trees and landscaping and other features of local and historical significance;

F. Respond appropriately to their context in terms of scale, height, and massing;

G. Achieve exemplar quality of design, and architecture and landscaping that respects its context whilst encouraging innovation and not unduly restricting style;

H. Use high quality materials and detailing which are attractive, durable and sustainable;

I. Provide appropriate safe and legible physical and visual connections that knit well into surrounding streets, routes and public realm, including, where appropriate, neighbouring development proposals;

J. Incorporate high quality landscaping, tree planting and urban greening measures to maximise biodiversity and ecological value in accordance with Policy 77 ‘Green Infrastructure and the Natural Environment’, Policy 78 ’ Parks, Open Spaces and Recreation ‘, Policy 79 ‘Biodiversity and Geodiversity’ and Policy 80 ‘Trees’;

K. Provide a coherent layout and block structure with active street frontages onto the public realm;

L. Establish a clear distinction between public and private spaces;

M. Provide an appropriate amount of well designed, suitably located and usable private and communal amenity space;

N. Provide tree-lined streets and multi-functional green spaces at ground, podium, and roof level (as appropriate), through a well integrated soft landscaping scheme that has been fully considered from the initial stages of design and makes satisfactory provision for future growth and aftercare;

O. Facilitate inclusive, safe and accessible environments for all;

P. Incorporate design measures that increase climate change resilience, including in relation to energy use, surface water management, microclimate control, waste management, air and noise pollution;

Q. Maximise the versatility, adaptability and sustainability of both buildings and open spaces in order to accommodate present and future requirements;

R. Are fit for purpose and demonstrate careful consideration of the needs of all building users;

S. For residential schemes of ten homes and above, address the Homes England Building for a Healthy Life (BHL) criteria, and for all major applications, address the ten principles of Active Design, as published by Sport England and supported by Public Health England; and

T. Maintain approved design quality from the granting of planning permission through to completion of the scheme.