Place Making

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To ensure that the most sustainable sites are used for development and that the design process, layout structure and form provide a development that is appropriate to the local context and supports a sustainable community.

Read the background on Place Making

Ref: 19

Question 3.1

Objective

To ensure the most effective and efficient use of land, applying a sequential approach.

Importance: Importance

Question

How can the site be best characterised?

  1. Contaminated land – remediated or awaiting remediation
  2. Brownfield – derelict urban land
  3. Undeveloped – includes residential gardens.
  4. Other: including brownfield – rural land, designated open space, designated sports pitches or recreation land, green belt, high quality agricultural land, land designated as of ecological importance, land with workable or potentially workable minerals, land at moderate or significant risk of flooding (Environment Agency Flood Zones 2 & 3 in England)

Targets and Justification

Best
B or A
Good
C
Minimum
None set

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 19
Ref: 20

Question 3.2

Objective

To ensure the most effective and efficient use of land.

Importance: Importance

Question

How much of the development site will be previously developed or brownfield land which will be brought back into use by this development?

Targets and Justification

Best
100%
Good
>60%
Minimum
None set

Applies to Developments

This question applies to and Large developments.

Ref: 20
Ref: 21

Question 3.3

Objective

To ensure effective re-use of apt buildings.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

What percentage of the existing buildings on site will be re-used / refurbished?

Targets and Justification

Best
100%
Good
>50%
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 21
Ref: 22

Question 3.4

Objective

To ensure that the preparation of a statement of design intent, that is informed by studies of the site and its surroundings, is discussed with the appropriate parties prior to finalisation.

Importance: Importance

Question

Will a design statement, incorporating the findings of context appraisals and explaining emerging design principles be discussed with the Local Authority prior to the application?

Targets and Justification

Best
Yes and involving SEEDA Design Champion and referencing Urban Design Compendium (English Partnerships)
Good
Yes - building on context appraisals that include landscape and ecological assets, existing street network, surrounding and prospective community and demographic appraisal, block & plot size and scale, height and massing.
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 22
Ref: 23

Question 3.5

Objective

To ensure that the landscaping scheme is attractive and appropriate to the local environment.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will a landscaping scheme be drawn up for the site – to include POS, street scenes, public/private space boundaries and site boundaries, with landscape and ecological assets preserved?

Targets and Justification

Best
Drawn up with landscape architect AND ecologist
Good
Drawn up with landscape architect
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 23
Ref: 24

Question 3.6

Objective

To achieve visual and physical connectivity that makes it easy to find the development and to navigate around.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Are there physical and visual links between the development and the surrounding area, and how do they integrate the development with the surrounding area?

  1. Are new routes into the site continuations of existing access points from the surrounding area?
  2. How direct are sight lines of existing neighbourhood streets continued through the site?
  3. Are main routes within the site connected directly to main routes in the wider area without feeding through existing routes with less capacity or with a primarily residential function?

Targets and Justification

Best
Not currently identified
Good
A design strategy addressing all three issues
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 24
Ref: 25

Question 3.7

Objective

To make pedestrian movement attractive and safe, reducing reliance upon private cars for local journeys.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will the proposed street network provide a high quality public realm with a pedestrian friendly environment?

  1. Has a choice of good pedestrian routes connecting to services and places people want to use been provided?
  2. Are pedestrian routes direct with safe crossings at points where pedestrians want to cross?
  3. Has a design strategy been produced to ensure that pedestrian routes are attractive, well-lit and safe?
  4. Will street design calm traffic where appropriate?

Targets and Justification

Best
Not currently identified
Good
A design strategy that addresses all the above issues
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 25
Ref: 26

Question 3.8

Objective

To create a place with a clear identity that is easy to understand and navigate.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will the development be designed to be easy for users to understand and orientate themselves in, and does it promote a neighbourhood identity?

  1. Will entrances to the development and its different areas be designed as gateways?
  2. Will landmarks, including memorable buildings, be used to help users orientate themselves?
  3. Will clear views and deflected views of landmarks be created?
  4. Will corner buildings be heightened or building line altered to act as landmarks?
  5. Will nodes be emphasised through surface treatment?

Targets and Justification

Best
Not currently identified
Good
A design strategy that addresses all the above issues
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 26
Ref: 27

Question 3.9

Objective

To ensure that building frontages encourage pedestrian usage of streets contributing to vitality.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will the ‘Active Frontage Guidelines’ of the English Partnerships Urban Design Compendium be met in order to promote vitality? Note active frontages means encouraging pedestrian entrances and exits onto streets, which are frequently used (see table 5/3 Active frontage guidelines)

Targets and Justification

Best
100% achieves at least Grade C frontage, 50% Grade A
Good
100% achieves at least Grade C frontage, 25% Grade A
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 27
Ref: 28

Question 3.10

Objective

To create defensible spaces that clearly define public and private spaces.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will the development make a clear distinction between public fronts and private backs, allowing for secure gardens, parking, or delivery access at the rear and an overlooked, safe public realm?

Targets and Justification

Best
100% frontages onto street, 0% exposed backs
Good
100% building frontages face onto street
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 28
Ref: 29

Question 3.11

Objective

To ensure that the development responds to local character whilst reinforcing its own identity.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will the appearance of the development be visually appropriate, taking into consideration local character studies, and will it complement local character whilst creating a strong identity for the new neighbourhood?

  1. Building materials and colour complementing local character
  2. Building style and form enhancing local character
  3. Roofscapes visually respecting the developments location within a local context
  4. Continuity of local building details such as windows and doors
  5. Residential component of the development fostering a potential for personalisation by prospective residents
  6. Contemporary approach to reflecting the local vernacular.

Targets and Justification

Best
Yes to A - F
Good
Yes to A - E
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 29
Ref: 30

Question 3.12

Objective

To ensure access to high quality public green space for all.

Importance: Importance

Question

How far will the local community have to travel to reach high quality public green space?

Targets and Justification

Best
Minimum and Good practice plus ANGsT standard met
Good
100% of dwellings are within 500m of designated public green space where children can play
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 30
Ref: 31

Question 3.13

Objective

To promote outdoor recreation, health and community interaction.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will there be provision of accessible play space for the new development?

Targets and Justification

Best
Exceeds the good practice guide's requirements
Good
Meets good practice guide "Developing accessible play space: a good practice guide" DCLG
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 31
Ref: 32

Question 3.14

Objective

To ensure that new buildings can be adapted to the demands of new uses.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will flexibility be designed into commercial units to provide adaptability to changing market needs?

  1. Optimum adaptability to future use changes in terms of building depth (9-13m)
  2. Optimum adaptability to future uses in terms of building width (5-7m frontages) or multiples thereof
  3. Floor to floor heights to allow for vertical segregation of mixed uses and provide adaptability for future changes of use

English Partnership Urban Design Compendium figures

Targets and Justification

Best
As for good practice but for all commercial units.
Good
A design strategy which addresses points 1 - 3 for some commercial units
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 32
Ref: 33

Question 3.15

Objective

To prevent social inequalities and foster a socially inclusive community.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will the affordable housing be indistinguishable from the rest of the development in terms of aesthetics and distribution?

Targets and Justification

Best
No standard identified
Good
Yes
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 33
Ref: 34

Question 3.16

Objective

To attract a diverse new community that reflects the surrounding demographic trends.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will a statement be prepared explaining how the development contributes to the required mix of housing for the area, in terms of type, size, tenure and reflecting the needs of the current and prospective community demographics?

Targets and Justification

Best
No standard identified
Good
Yes
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 34
Ref: 35

Question 3.17

Objective

To apply design principles to increase the security of the development.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will development be designed to “Secure By Design” or equivalent standards?

Targets and Justification

Best
Specialist advisor provided input to design process and has provided commentary on submitted design
Good
Principles from named standard used to develop design for development
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 35
Ref: 36

Question 3.18

Objective

To ensure that street lighting is as energy efficient as possible and to minimise light spillage.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

How much of the street lighting will be energy efficient with limited upward light transmission?

Targets and Justification

Best
As good practice plus renewable energy generation
Good
100% low powered street lighting with limited upward light transmission
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 36
Ref: 37

Question 3.19

Objective

To ensure that the security lighting is a carefully designed element, installed with due consideration of its suitability for the task and its effect on neighbours and the environment.

Importance: ImportanceImportance

Question

Will the security lighting strategy be designed to minimise light pollution and disruption to neighbours?

Targets and Justification

Best
Good practice plus: Domestic external security lighting designed into dwellings and provided by developer.
Good
Appropriate lighting type, position, footprint, timings and duration planned into security lighting systems
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Ref: 37

Development sizes

The checklist has been split into three different versions for different sizes of development:

Small
Up to 10 dwellings
Medium
11 - 999 dwellings
Up to 999 dwellings (mixed use)
Large
1,000 - 5,999 dwellings
1,000 - 5,999 dwellings (mixed)

If the development is for more than 6,000 houses, we recommend a bespoke checklist should be produced by the developer and local authority.

The set of questions for smaller developments is contained within the set of questions for larger developments.

This checklist is no longer supported

The Government announced that as part of its new policy on economic development all Regional Development Agencies, including SEEDA, will close.

This checklist will remain online to allow existing users to reference their existing projects. New accounts and projects can no longer be created.