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National planning policy

Good design is important for all development types in all locations, which means that several planning policy guidance (PPG) and planning policy statements (PPS) are often relevant for the same planning application.

To help you find the right planning policy quickly, we have collected quotes from the important design-related statements for you to use in writing policies, negotiations, letters, decisions, reports or appeals:

PPGs and PPSs can be downloaded from the Department of Communities and Local Government’s website at www.communities.gov.uk. Manual for Streets can be downloaded from the same website.

Read some of our consultation responses on planning policy.

PPS1: delivering sustainable development

'Good design ensures attractive usable, durable and adaptable places and is a key element in achieving sustainable development. Good design is indivisible from good planning.'
(paragraph 33)

'Planning policies should promote high quality inclusive design in the layout of new developments and individual buildings in terms of function and impact, not just for the short term but over the lifetime of the development. Design which fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area should not be accepted'
(key principle IV, paragraph 13)

'Good design should contribute positively to making places better for people. Design which is inappropriate in its context, or which fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions, should not be accepted.'
(paragraph 34)

'High quality and inclusive design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process. High quality and inclusive design... means ensuring a place will function well and add to the overall character and quality of the area'
(paragraph 35)

'Good design should:
– address the connections between people and places by considering the needs of people to access jobs and key services;
– be integrated into the existing urban form and the natural and built environments;
– be an integral part of the processes for ensuring successful, safe and inclusive villages, towns and cities;
– create an environment where everyone can access and benefit from the full range of opportunities available to members of society; and,
– consider the direct and indirect impacts on the natural environment.'
(paragraph 35)

'In planning for the achievement of high quality and inclusive design, planning authorities should have regard to good practice set out in By Design – Urban design in the planning system: towards better practice; By Design – better places to live (DETR, CABE 2000)'
(paragraph 37)

PPS1 supplement: planning and climate change

'In developing their Core Strategy and supporting local development documents, planning authorities should provide a framework that promotes and encourages renewable and low carbon energy generation.'
(paragraph 19)

'Where possible, planning authorities should make use of Design and Access Statements to obtain from applicants the information necessary to show how their proposed development will contribute to the Key Planning Objectives set out in this PPS and relevant RSS and DPD policies consistent with this PPS.'
(paragraph 41)

'In their consideration of the environmental performance of proposed development, taking particular account of the climate the development is likely to experience over its expected lifetime, planning authorities should expect new development to… deliver a high quality local environment'
(paragraph 42)

PPS3: housing

'Good design is fundamental to the development of high quality new housing, which contributes to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities.'
(paragraph 12)

'Reflecting policy in PPS1, good design should contribute positively to making places better for people. Design which is inappropriate in its context, or which fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions, should not be accepted.'
(paragraph 13)

'Matters to consider when assessing design quality include the extent to which the proposed development:
– Is easily accessible and well-connected to public transport and community facilities and services, and is well laid out so that all the space is used efficiently, is safe, accessible and user-friendly.
– Provides, or enables good access to, community and green and open amenity and recreational space (including play space) as well as private outdoor space such as residential gardens, patios and balconies.
– Is well integrated with, and complements, the neighbouring buildings and the local area more generally in terms of scale, density, layout and access.
– Facilitates the efficient use of resources, during construction and in use, and seeks to adapt to and reduce the impact of, and on, climate change.
– Takes a design-led approach to the provision of car-parking space, that is well-integrated with a high quality public realm and streets that are pedestrian, cycle and vehicle friendly.
– Creates, or enhances, a distinctive character that relates well to the surroundings and supports a sense of local pride and civic identity.
– Provides for the retention or re-establishment of the biodiversity within residential environments.'
(paragraph 16)

PPS4: planning for sustainable economic growth

“To help achieve sustainable economic growth, the Government's objectives for planning are to… promote the vitality and viability of town and other centres as important places for communities. To do this, the Government wants… the historic, archaeological and architectural heritage of centres to be conserved and, where appropriate, enhanced to provide a sense of place and a focus for the community and for civic activity.”
(paragraph 10)

'Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should ensure that their development plan sets out a clear economic vision and strategy for their area which positively and proactively encourages sustainable economic growth identifying priority areas with high levels of deprivation that should be prioritised for regeneration investment, having regard to the character of the area and the need for a high quality environment.'
(paragraph EC2.1.a)

“Local planning authorities should proactively plan to promote competitive town centre environments and provide consumer choice by… taking measures to conserve and, where appropriate, enhance the established character and diversity of their town centres”
(paragraph EC4.1)

'… the need to encourage the shared use of parking, particularly in town centres and as part of major developments.'
(paragraph EC8.2)

'All planning applications for economic development should be assessed against the following impact considerations: …. whether the proposal secures a high quality and inclusive design which takes the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of the area and the way it functions.'
(paragraph EC10.2)

'In considering sequential assessments required under policy EC14.3, local planning authorities should: … ensure that in considering sites in or on the edge of existing centres, developers and operators have demonstrated flexibility in terms of:— scale; reducing the floorspace of their development; format; more innovative site layouts and store configurations such as multi-storey developments with smaller footprints; car parking provision, reduced or reconfigured car parking areas; and the scope for disaggregating specific parts of a retail or leisure development, including those which are part of a group of retail or leisure units, into separate, sequentially preferable, sites.'
(paragraph EC15.1)

PPS5: planning for the historic environment

'At a local level, plans should consider the qualities and local distinctiveness of the historic environment and how these can contribute to the development of the spatial vision in the local development framework Core Strategy.'
(paragraph HE3.4)

'Local planning authorities should take into account… the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets, and of utilising their positive role in place-shaping.'
(paragraph HE7.4)

'Local planning authorities should take into account the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to the character and local distinctiveness of the historic environment. The consideration of design should include scale, height, massing, alignment, materials and use.'
(paragraph HE7.5)

PPS12: local spatial planning

'The Local Development Framework is the collection of local development documents produced by the local planning authority which collectively delivers the spatial planning strategy for its area. The Core Strategy is the key plan within the Local Development Framework.'
(paragraph 1.4)

'Spatial planning is a process of place shaping and delivery. It aims to produce a vision for the future of places that responds to the local challenges and opportunities, and is based on evidence, a sense of local distinctiveness and community derived objectives, within the overall framework of national policy and regional strategies.'
(paragraph 2.1)

'Spatial planning plays a central role in the overall task of place shaping and in the delivery of land, uses and associated activities.'
(paragraph 2.3)

'The Core Strategy is the principal Development Plan Document (DPD).'
(paragraph 3.1)

'The vision should be informed by an analysis of the characteristics of the area and its constituent parts and the key issues and challenges facing them.'
(paragraph 4.2)

'Local authorities should explore and exploit opportunities for joint working on Core strategies.'
(paragraph 4.16)

'The Core Strategy should not repeat or reformulate national or regional policy.'
(paragraph 4.30)

PPG13: transport

'…when preparing development plans and considering planning applications, local authorities should consider how best to reduce crime and the fear of crime, and seek by the design and layout of developments and areas, to secure community safety and road safety.'
(paragraph 6)

'The physical form and qualities of a place, shape - and are shaped by - the way it is used and the way people and vehicles move through it. New development should help to create places that connect with each other sustainably, providing the right conditions to encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport. People should come before traffic.'
(paragraph 28)

'Places that work well are designed to be used safely and securely by all in the community, frequently for a wide range of purposes and throughout the day and evening. Local authorities in partnership with the police should promote designs and layouts which are safe (both in terms of road safety and personal security) and take account of crime prevention and community safety considerations.'
(paragraph 28)

'When thinking about new development, and in adapting existing development, the needs and safety of all in the community should be considered from the outset… taking account of the importance of good design.'
(paragraph 29)

PPG17: planning for open space, sport and recreation

'Local networks of high quality and well managed and maintained open spaces, sports and recreational facilities help create urban environments that are attractive, clean and safe.'
(paragraph 2)

'Well planned and maintained open spaces and good quality sports and recreational facilities can play a major part in improving people's sense of well being in the place they live.'
(paragraph 2)

'Local authorities should also undertake audits of existing open space, sports and recreational facilities, the use made of existing facilities, access in terms of location and costs (such as charges) and opportunities for new open space and facilities (see endnote 1). Audits should consider both the quantitative and the qualitative elements of open space, sports and recreational facilities . Audits of quality will be particularly important as they will allow local authorities to identify potential for increased use through better design, management and maintenance.'
(paragraph 3)

'In identifying where to locate new areas of open space, sports and recreational facilities, local authorities should… improve the quality of the public realm through good design.'
(paragraph 20, iv)

'In looking to improve existing open space and facilities, local authorities should promote better use of open spaces and sports and recreational facilities, by the use of good design to reduce crime.'
(paragraph 33, iii)