New design codes for councils announced in beautiful buildings drive

Councils will be expected to develop design codes to ensure the delivery of “beautiful” and “green” homes under planning changes confirmed today.

Robert Jenrick, speaking at an event today, announced a raft of changes in response to the Building Better, Building Beautiful commission’s Living with Beauty report.

Under the plans, councils will be expected to develop an illustrated design guide that sets the standard for a local area, with input from local people.

A National Model Design Code (NMDC) is to be published today to help councils achieve this, providing guidance on “all aspects of new development.”

A new Office for Place will be created to test and pilot the model code with more than 20 local authorities.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will also be updated to place more emphasis on beauty, place-making, the environment and sustainable development. The updated framework will ‘set an expectation’ that good quality design should be approved and includes a commitment to ensure all streets are lined with trees. According to the government, this will be the first time since 1947 the word “beauty” has been specifically including in planning rules.

An advisory board made up of industry experts will also be set up, chaired by Nicholas Boys Smith (see box below).

Robert Jenrick, housing secretary said: ““This is about putting communities – not developers – in the driving seat to ensure good quality design is the norm, and the return to a sense of stewardship – to building greener, enduringly popular homes and places that stand the test of time in every sense.”

Nicholas Boys Smith, chair of the advisory board for the Office for Place, said:

“Britain has created and is creating some of the best developments in the world. But the quality achieved remains stubbornly inconsistent. We must do better, more often for the benefit of communities, to contribute to the economic success of our towns and cities and to look after our planet.”

Paul Miner, head of land use and planning at countryside charity the CPRE said the prioritisation of design codes and creation of the Office for Place was a “hugely welcome” step. However, he said the government’s broader planning reforms, set out in last year’s planning white paper, would make good design “impossible”.

He said: “The government’s disastrous planning proposals, that look set to halve democratic input in planning, will completely undermine any progress on design and design codes. Good design is impossible without local democracy and accountability in the planning system.

“If Ministers are serious about creating the beautiful places of the future, they should start by totally rethinking their planning proposals and ensure people and nature are put back at the heart of planning.” 

See also:

Will the government be brave on beauty?

The beauty commission’s advice is sound on sustainable placemaking

The Building Beautiful Commission’s report is too narrow