The role and contribution of the planner in achieving good design in neighbourhood planning

Colin Haylock : RTPI President

Outline

• Creating the climate for good design

• Developing design policy• Operating design policy wisely and robustly• Promoting good design• Encouraging good design• Building skills and confidence with and in communities

--- but, very importantly• --------- working in partnership

Developing design policy

• Based on a clear understanding of the place at the strategic and local levels

• Strategic view• Clearly expressed• At the heart of the Local Plan / Core Strategy • Fighting for and deserving its place in planning and in corporate policy • Only as much detail as is essential• Setting framework for appropriate innovation• Supporting with appropriate guidelines and illustrations

LDF to Neighbourhood Plan LDF to Neighbourhood Plan

Core Strategy and Strategic Design Dimensions

LDF workshops

Key messages

• Tell the story

• Set the agenda

• Say it clearly

Directly transferable to neighbourhood plans

LDF to Neighbourhood Plan

The Tower Hamlets approach

LDF to Neighbourhood Plan LDF to Neighbourhood Plan

The Tower Hamlets approach

LDF to Neighbourhood Plan

The Tower Hamlets approach

LDF to Neighbourhood Plan LDF to Neighbourhood Plan

The Tower Hamlets approach

Operating design policy wisely and robustly

• Having the courage to distinguish principle from detail and interpret policy with appropriate flexibility

• Understanding the implications and being willing to argue for considered departure from policy

• Build confidence in and with partners – EH : Civic Socs :DC CABE etc

• Having the courage to defend policies when they are under pressure

• Using the developed understanding with partners to help

Promoting and encouraging good design

• With the public / development industry and their professional teams / Council Members• Awards as exemplars – especially local awards• Using widely respected tools• Working on the Council’s own commissioning

-------- are Design Champions dead ?

Building confidence with and in communities

• Getting people talking about place rather than process• Understanding and sharing their concerns• Getting them to talk about aspirations• Using helpful, understandable and respected tools• The Planning Aid skills spreading / capacity – awareness building model• Finding a comfortable way in• Bringing appropriate “moves “ into play

Redcar and Cleveland: Skelton and Brotton

Redcar and Cleveland: Skelton and Brotton

Redcar and Cleveland: Skelton and Brotton

Skelton and Brotton Neighbourhood Plan

Redcar and Cleveland: Skelton and Brotton

Redcar and Cleveland: Skelton and Brotton

Redcar and Cleveland: Skelton and Brotton

Design to delivery 19

Local Policy

CABE Case Study Libraryand Building For Life Housing Projects Library

Environment and community01. Does the development provide (or is it close to) community facilities, such as a school, parks, play areas, shops, pubs or cafes?02. Is there an accommodation mix that reflects the needs and aspirations of the local community?03. Is there a tenure mix that reflects the needs of the local community?04. Does the development have easy access to public transport?05. Does the development have any features that reduce its environmental impact?

Character06. Is the design specific to the scheme?07. Does the scheme exploit existing buildings, landscape or topography?08. Does the scheme feel like a place with distinctive character?09. Do the buildings and layout make it easy to find your way around?10. Are streets defined by a well-structured building layout?

Streets, parking and pedestrianisation11. Does the building layout take priority over the streets and car parking, so that the highways do not dominate?12. Is the car parking well integrated and situated so it supports the street scene?13. Are the streets pedestrian, cycle and vehicle friendly?14. Does the scheme integrate with existing streets, paths and surrounding development?15. Are public spaces and pedestrian routes overlooked and do they feel safe?

Environment and community01. Does the development provide (or is it close to) community facilities, such as a school, parks, play areas, shops, pubs or cafes?02. Is there an accommodation mix that reflects the needs and aspirations of the local community?03. Is there a tenure mix that reflects the needs of the local community?04. Does the development have easy access to public transport?05. Does the development have any features that reduce its environmental impact?

Character06. Is the design specific to the scheme?07. Does the scheme exploit existing buildings, landscape or topography?08. Does the scheme feel like a place with distinctive character?09. Do the buildings and layout make it easy to find your way around?10. Are streets defined by a well-structured building layout?

Streets, parking and pedestrianisation11. Does the building layout take priority over the streets and car parking, so that the highways do not dominate?12. Is the car parking well integrated and situated so it supports the street scene?13. Are the streets pedestrian, cycle and vehicle friendly?14. Does the scheme integrate with existing streets, paths and surrounding development?15. Are public spaces and pedestrian routes overlooked and do they feel safe?

Redcar and Cleveland: Skelton and Brotton

Neighbourhood Planning in the North East

Neighbourhood Planning in the North East