A Draft Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide has been prepared for public consultation. It is intended that the guide will become a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The purpose of the guide will be to achieve a step change in the quality of new housing development in the District in support of policies in the Local Plan Core Strategy. It will help to ensure that the significant level of housing growth needed in the District to meet future need will be designed to create healthy, inclusive, sustainable places to live for everyone, which are also financially viable to build.

To enable it to be progressed towards SPD status the guide needs to undergo a formal public consultation period. This will help to test the content of the guide and identify any changes and improvements which may be necessary.

The report of the Strategic Director Place (Document “G”) seeks Executive approval to undertake public consultation on the draft document.

Recommended -

(1)          That the draft Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document, attached in Appendix 1, be approved as the basis for a public consultation period of eight weeks.

(2)          That the outcome of the public consultation, including any appropriate suggested amendments, be reported back to the Executive as soon as possible with a view to seeking approval to adopt the Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide as an SPD.

(3)          That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to carry out any minor amendments of a drafting or similar nature necessary, prior to consulting on the draft Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide.

(4)          That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to prepare a ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Statement’ and a ‘Habitats Regulation Assessment Screening Statement’ as supporting documents to the draft Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide to be made available for comment in the public consultation period.

                                                (Andrew Marshall – 01274 434050)

A Draft Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide had been prepared for public consultation. It was intended that the guide would become a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The purpose of the guide would be to achieve a step change in the quality of new housing development in the District in support of policies in the Local Plan Core Strategy. It would help to ensure that the significant level of housing growth needed in the District to meet future need would be designed to create healthy, inclusive, sustainable places to live for everyone, which were also financially viable to build.

To enable it to be progressed towards SPD status the guide needed to undergo a formal public consultation period. This would help to test the content of the guide and identify any changes and improvements which may  be necessary.

The report of the Strategic Director Place (Document “G”) sought Executive approval to undertake public consultation on the draft document.

The Regeneration, Planning and Transport portfolio holder thanked officers in producing a document that would see a step change for design in the district and result in improvements in healthy people and places.

It was noted that as the core strategy was delivered and more new houses were built the default speed limit would be 20 mph.  Reference was made to creating green streets by introducing wildlife corridors and hedgerow’s, planting on streets and considering the way in which gardens were designed all of which would have an impact on air quality, sustain wildlife and the climate change agenda.  The guide required all homes to be accessible and adaptable and set a 10% target to be fully accessible or accessible for wheelchairs.  Streets should be as accessible as possible and adequate car parking and bin storage provided to reduce the obstruction of pavements.

The Healthy People and Places portfolio holder was pleased to note the links to health and the environment and stressed that green play space and green infrastructure contributed to the health and wellbeing agenda.  It was noted that having safe play areas close to where children lived had a significant impact on their health and wellbeing and started social interaction that gave them skills for life.

The Children and Families portfolio holder was please to note the consultation with children of the district as they would be the adults of tomorrow living in the district.  

Resolved -

(1)          That the draft Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document, attached in Appendix 1 to Document “G”, be approved as the basis for a public consultation period of eight weeks.

(2)          That the outcome of the public consultation, including any appropriate suggested amendments, be reported back to the Executive as soon as possible with a view to seeking approval to adopt the Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide as an Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

(3)          That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to carry out any minor amendments of a drafting or similar nature necessary, prior to consulting on the draft Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide.

(4)          That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to prepare a ‘Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Statement’ and a ‘Habitats Regulation Assessment Screening Statement’ as supporting documents to the draft Homes and Neighbourhoods Design Guide to be made available for comment in the public consultation period.

ACTION: Strategic Director Place

Regeneration and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee