80 PLANNING DESIGN GUIDES (0.27.55) PDF 249 KB
At the request of the Committee to receive information regarding Planning Design Guides.
Minutes:
The Committee had before it and NOTED a briefing paper * from the Head of Planning and Regeneration providing information regarding the parameters within which the planning system addressed design. The officer explained that planning design was not just about what a building looked like but also how it functioned, its accessibility and a range of other issues. The authority had a range of policies within the adopted Development Plan, mainly DM2, which was focused on seeking to gain high quality design.
The Head of Planning and Regeneration outlined the contents of the briefing paper, explaining that the Government considered good design to be a key aspect of sustainable development and should contribute to make places better for people.
Planning Officers could access a Design Review Panel which was made up of a series of professionals from different disciplines who met as a panel to critique schemes to enhance and guide on better outcomes. This panel was independent and could be called upon by developers early in development to improve outcomes.
There was no current Design Guide specific to Mid Devon, but the Forward Planning Team would be adding this to their work programme following completion of the Local Plan. There was a Design Guide in place for the Eastern Urban Extension.
Discussion took place regarding:
· Energy efficiency which was generally addressed by Building regulations;
· Life-Time Home Standards which set out a series of criteria to do with adaptability, such as ensuring that stairways were wide enough to accommodate a stair lift at a future date;
· The view that European Standards were advanced from those in the UK;
· Ongoing issues regarding the road at Kingfisher Reach and consultation that was taking place regarding future development in Cullompton;
· Areas of concern at Kingfisher reach such as parking being provided in parking courts, which people didn’t tend to use;
· The need for Highways to consider what would happen at appeal when making decisions;
· Road improvements that had taken place at Blundell’s Road.
The Chairman thanked the officer for her report.
Note: - * Briefing paper previously circulated and attached to Minutes.