|
Download the Design Guide
Cheshire County Council Building Development Design Guide.
INTRODUCTION
1. The guide has been prepared by officers from the Environmental Planning Service with the support of officers from Corporate Property Management Services and Engineering Services to promote best practice sustainable design standards for all new County Council building development in line with the Government’s commitment to high quality design in the built environment.
2. There are two drivers behind this document. The first is The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 which requires that from 10 August 2006:
‘[A]n application for planning permission…must be accompanied by…
a) a statement about design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development.
b) a statement about how issues related to access to the development have been dealt with.’ (Para. 2-4527, section 42, Part 2).
3. The second driver is PPS1: Delivering Sustainable Development (ODPM, 2005), which seeks to raise standards of design in all development and assists the implementation of the Principal Act. It states that at all levels of Government: ‘Planning policies should promote high quality inclusive design’.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS
4. The document has two main objectives:
-
Provide advice to client services/applicants on the appropriate form and content of a Design and Access Statement to accompany a planning application.
-
Promote best practice in the design of County owned development through:
a) An explanation of national, regional and local planning policies relevant to design.
b) The demonstration of best practice in design through a range of case study projects.
c) Procedural improvements i.e. the consideration of design issues throughout the procurement, conception, planning and construction phases.
5. This guide is aimed at all those involved in County Council owned development. Its remit does not extend beyond a consideration of design and the planning process.
6. The document is currently a best practice guidance note and has no formal planning status. However, the principles of this guide form part of the Corporate Property Strategy. Please note that the intention of the document is to provide the introduction to a future family of best practice documents on a range of specific development planning issues with the aim of facilitating more effective joint working practices between all those involved in County Council owned development.
ISSUES
7. The document is intended to support best practice in the design of County Council built development. There are no financial implications associated with the adoption of this document as policy. Indeed, the aim of the document is to reduce total build costs through the early resolution of design issues that have a resource implication.
8. A thorough consultation of internal and external principal stakeholders was undertaken between 23rd May 2006 and 16th June 2006. Representations were received in writing and views incorporated into the final version of the document.
COMMENTS
9. The design guide recommends that the following principles be addressed for all County Council development.
Layout, Access and Safety
Development should provide a safe, inclusive environment and function effectively and efficiently for all users.
Architecture and Appearance
Development should seek the highest standards of design and materials, appropriate to its proposed lifespan, context and usage.
Sustainable Construction
Development should respond to the County Council Guide on sustainable construction and design to ensure efficient and sustainable use of energy over its lifetime.
Landscape
Development should seek the highest standards of landscape design appropriate to its context.
Natural and Historic Environment
Development should conserve and, where possible, enhance Cheshire’s natural and man-made heritage in accordance with the relevant legislation.
Streetscape and the Public Realm
Development should acknowledge local character and infrastructure to maintain, and where possible, improve the quality of the wider environment.
Communication
All parties involved in the design and construction process should facilitate effective and positive communications from inception to completion of the development.
CONCLUSIONS
10. The need to strengthen design guidance for Cheshire County Council building development is recognised and welcomed. The publication of this document will support the County Council’s commitment to self-service local government encourage quality in design and development and promote Cheshire County Council as an examplar authority towards excellence in the built environment.
|