There are just two weeks left to submit comments on the Government’s Draft National Model Design Code, as well as draft revisions to the National Planning policy Framework.
Annabel Keegan, Associate in our placemaking team, highlights the key proposals affecting local authorities and developers.
National Model Design Code (NMDC)
Published on 30th January 2021 by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), this code sets out new standards of beauty, quality and design for all new developments.
Building on the 2019 National Design Guide, it is intended to inform local design guides and codes or, in the absence of local guidance, act in their stead. It places local communities at the heart of plans to make sure that new developments reflect the history and unique character of their areas and are beautiful and well-designed.
The code places great weight on Manual for Streets and Manual for Streets 2, which continue to represent good practice on street design and which our own Phil Jones co-produced. Government has recently commissioned an updated version of Manual for Streets, which will replace both documents. Phil is a member of the CIHT Project Board for the update and we will keep clients informed on progress over the coming months.
Street trees are “a core part of [the government’s] vision for enhancing the quality of urban development”. NMDC provides guidance on incorporating trees into new development, while proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework also require new streets to be tree-lined (more on the National Planning Policy Framework below).
Last month the MHCLG’s Office for Place also invited applications from local authorities to be one of the first ten authorities to pilot the NMDC. They will each receive a share of an initial £500,000 to fund the work.
Draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
The NPPF has been revised to implement policy changes in response to the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission “Living with Beauty” report. The proposed changes set out in the updated NPPF consultation draft can be found here
Key revisions include:
- positively [support] design quality as a key issue in consenting schemes
- make it clearer that poor quality schemes should be refused
- where appropriate [extend] references to ‘good design’ to ‘good design and beautiful places.
If you need more advice on how these proposals will affect your developments, then please get in touch. PJA not only helps shape national design policy, but is also behind some of the UK’s best design-led places which enhance local character, provide a sense of place and put people first.
Made up of some of the UK’s leading engineers, transport planners, urban designers and landscape architects, we work together to achieve the best results.
Contact: [email protected]
You can comment on the Government proposals until March 27 here
