Policy information sourced from the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan

SP 9 Place Making and High Quality Design

Proposals will be required to deliver a high quality design that fosters a positive sense of place by responding to the following principles in an integrated and coherent way.

Respond to character and context

  • Proposals have been informed by an analysis of the site’s character and context so that they relate well to their surroundings and local distinctiveness, including the wider townscape and landscape, and enhance the sense of place.
  • Proposals are of an appropriate density (typically between 30 - 50 net dwellings per hectare) that combines the efficient use of land with high quality design that respects character and context. Higher density development will be encouraged in accessible locations, such as around transport hubs or town and neighbourhood centres, where this is appropriate.

Legible, permeable and well connected

  • Places are easy to understand and navigate by virtue of the layout; hierarchy and design of routes; height, scale and design of buildings; and views and vistas, and other landmarks such as public art.
  • Places are accessible, permeable, well connected and easy to move through for all in society. New routes connect into the existing route network and are safe and pleasant to use.
  • Public spaces seek to prioritise the pedestrian and cyclist above motor vehicles in their layout, landscaping and provision of street furniture/facilities.

High quality public space and landscaping

  • Proposals provide an appropriate amount of public open space that is well sited and designed to help create and enhance a sense of place.
  • Public open spaces are coherent, attractive, multi-functional, safe, inclusive and utilise high quality soft and hard landscaping.
  • Public open spaces promote health and wellbeing, with play and leisure spaces well located and attractively designed to encourage their use.
  • Continuity of frontages and appropriate definition of spaces is created or maintained through the siting, layout and design of routes, buildings, landscaping and boundary treatments.

Space for nature

  • Proposals make space for nature, enable the movement of wildlife through the development, and protect and improve the connectivity of habitats at the wider landscape scale.
  • Layout and design of development respects and guides people’s interaction with spaces for nature, with strategies in place to manage and maintain the ecological integrity of those spaces.

Vibrant and diverse

  • Proposals offer an appropriate mix of uses to support sustainable and vibrant places to live, work and visit.
  • Public spaces and publicly accessible buildings are designed to be inclusive, promote social interaction and provide opportunities for informal cultural and economic activities.

Safe and secure

  • The design of buildings and boundary treatments create a sense of safety and security that is consistent with achieving active, welcoming, legible and permeable places.
  • Building entrances and public spaces are appropriately sited, designed and lit in order to maximise natural surveillance and a sense of safety. Proportionate steps may need to be taken to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience in locations where large numbers of people may be expected to congregate(44) .

Healthy and Active

  • Open space should be multi functional, attractive and accessible public spaces, which facilitate sport and physical activity.
  • The internal and external layout, use and design of buildings should promote opportunities for physical activity.

Building function and form

  • Development proposals respect neighbouring buildings and the surrounding context in terms of height, mass and scale.
  • Development proposals are of a high quality architectural design that creates coherent and attractive forms and elevations and uses high quality materials.
  • Alterations to buildings relate well to the character and proportions of the existing building and its curtilage, the surrounding context and the street scene in terms of their siting, height, mass, scale, detailed design and materials.
  • Buildings and their approaches are accessible and provide adequate internal amenity and functionality for occupiers and users.

Taller buildings

In addition to other design principles and criteria set out within the Local Plan, proposals for taller buildings should positively respond to the following matters within their design solution:

  • Clustering with other existing or proposed taller buildings within the immediate and wider area.
  • Long distance views.
  • Impact on skyline, townscape, the historic environment and landscape.
  • Shadowing and overlooking.
  • Micro-climate and wind tunnelling.
  • Relationship and interaction with the street and human scale.

Masterplanning

A comprehensive approach will be taken to the development of large sites. Masterplans will provide a spatial framework and, as a minimum, will set out the vision and objectives for the development; establish the quantum and distribution of land uses; identify sustainable transport linkages and a movement hierarchy; and establish the core design concepts for the site, which will be based on the principles set out in this policy. The masterplan should be informed by an appropriate evidence base together with consultation and be agreed by the Council prior to the determination of any relevant planning application. Masterplans will be required in the following circumstances:

  • Proposals for 500 or more dwellings; or Large scale (45) mixed use proposals; or
  • Proposals related to major development (as defined by the NPPF) in the Green Belt; or
  • Sites where there are potentially complex or sensitive issues such as listed buildings, conservation areas or heritage assets, including those with archaeological interest; or
  • Sites in multiple land ownership, where coordination between parties will be required to ensure the delivery of a high quality, coherent development; or
  • Mixed-use sites where consideration needs to be given to their integration into the surrounding area.

*44 Locations such as transport hubs, shopping centres, places of worship, visitor attractions and commercial centres and where advice obtained from the relevant agencies indicates that appropriate steps need to be taken.

*45 Mixed use proposals comprising of at least 500 dwellings and/or at least 10,000m2 of employment floorspace.

For more information please see the Welwyn Hatfield Local Plan