The Government has issued the first public draft of the new National Planning Policy Framework which will simplify and shorten national planning guidance.

The document contains a strong commitment to design quality including the use of design codes and design review.  Clause 120 of the draft framework states:

Local planning authorities should have local design review arrangements in place to provide assessment and support to ensure high standards of design. They should also when appropriate refer major projects for a national design review.

MADE’s design review service is part of the national set-up; a network of eight services affiliated to Design Council CABE.   This clause of the framework follows the Chief Planner’s letter issued in May underlining the importance of design review.

Over the coming months, before the National Planning Policy Framework is adopted, we will be talking to local authorities in the region about the design review arrangements.  We recognise that local design review has to strike a balance between affordability and effectiveness.  We want to help local authorities develop arrangements which as far as possible meet the 10 principles of design review articulated by CABE in the publication Design Review Principles and Practice in November 2009.  This document and the Chief Planner's letter can both be downloaded from our library section.