WIXLIB

by designurban design in the planning system: towards better practiceThe development control process is vital. The wayit is used determines whether and how the designpolicies in development plans and supplementaryguidance are reflected and applied. The mostthoroughly developed design policies will achievelittle if they are ignored in the development controlprocess. As stated in PPG1, “applicants for planningpermission should be able to demonstrate how theyhave taken account of the need for good designin their development proposals and that they havehad regard to relevant development plan policiesand supplementary design guidance”.Towards better practice10Using the planning system effectively to createthe conditions for better urban design requirespositive management, meaningful collaborationand the right skills.This guide offers suggestions to help create thoseconditions. It does not attempt to define a singleblueprint for good urban design. Rather, as an aidto understanding, it seeks to describe some of theobjectives of urban design. They relate to howpeople use buildings and urban space, and whatthey feel about the places they live and work in,and visit. The objectives are not unique to thisguide and they could, and have been, describeddifferently. What is attempted here is simply onedescription of what makes a successful place,based on widely shared experiences. Underlyingit is the need to plan sustainable developments.The objectives are supported by a series ofconsiderations that can act as prompts to thinkingabout urban design. These prompts help to relatethe objectives to the form of development – layout,scale, density, appearance and landscape. Achievinga successful relationship between objectives anddevelopment form depends on an intelligentresponse to local conditions.An aim of this guide is to encourage a move awayfrom a negative reliance on standards towards amore positive emphasis on performance criteria.Standards specify precisely how a development isto be designed (by setting out minimum distancesbetween buildings, for example). Performance criteriaare the means of assessing the extent to which adevelopment fulfils a specific planning requirement(such as maintaining privacy). Imaginative designerscan respond to performance criteria with a varietyof design solutions.Ultimately, achieving good design depends on theskills of the designer and the commitment to gooddesign of all those concerned with new development.Better practice guidance cannot substitute for skilleddesigners and their ability to analyse places, tounderstand how they are used and experiencedand to design with flair and sensitivity.

section 1the need for better urban design11

by design12urban design in the planning system: towards better practice

section 1The need for better urban designsection 2THINKING ABOUTURBAN DESIGNObjectives of urban designAspects of development formObjectives and developmentform brought togetherPrompts to thinking13

by designurban design in the planning system: towards better practiceTHINKING ABOUTURBAN DESIGNGood urban design is rarely broughtabout by a local authority prescribingphysical solutions, or by setting rigidor empirical design standards butby approaches which emphasisedesign objectives or principles.Objectives of urban design14Successful streets, spaces, villages, towns and citiestend to have characteristics in common. Thesefactors have been analysed to produce principlesor objectives of good urban design. They help toremind us what should be sought to create asuccessful place. There is considerable overlapbetween the objectives and they aremutually re-inforcing.

section 2thinking about urban designObjectives of urban designTo promote character in townscape and landscapeCharacterA place with its own identityby responding to and reinforcing locally distinctivepatterns of development, landscape and culture.Continuity and enclosureTo promote the continuity of street frontages andA place where public and private spaces arethe enclosure of space by development whichclearly distinguishedclearly defines private and public areas.To promote public spaces and routes that areQuality of the public realmA place with attractive and successful outdoor areasattractive, safe, uncluttered and work effectively forall in society, including disabled and elderly people.To promote accessibility and local permeability byEase of movementmaking places that connect with each other andA place that is easy to get to and move throughare easy to move through, putting people beforetraffic and integrating land uses and transport.To promote legibility through development thatLegibilityA place that has a clear image and is easy to understandprovides recognisable routes, intersections andlandmarks to help people find their way around.To promote adaptability through development thatAdaptabilityA place that can change easilycan respond to changing social, technological andeconomic conditions.To promote diversity and choice through a mix ofDiversityA place with variety and choicecompatible developments and uses that work togetherto create viable places that respond to local needs.15

by designurban design in the planning system: towards better practiceaspects of development formLayout: urban structureThe framework of routes and spaces that connect locallyand more widely, and the way developments, routes andopen spaces relate to one other.The layout provides the basic plan on which allother aspects of the form and uses of adevelopment depend.Layout: urban grainThe degree to which an area’s pattern of blocks andThe pattern of the arrangement of street blocks, plotsplot subdivisions is respectively small and frequentand their buildings in a settlement.(fine grain), or large and infrequent (coarse grain).LandscapeThe character and appearance of land, including itsThis includes all open space, including its planting,shape, form, ecology, natural features, colours andboundaries and treatment.elements, and the way these components combine.16Density and mixThe density of a development can be expressedThe amount of development on a given piece of landin a number of ways. This could be in terms of plotand the range of uses. Density influences the intensity ofratio (particularly for commercial developments),development, and in combination with the mix of usesnumber of dwellings, or the number of habitablecan affect a place’s vitality and viability.rooms (for residential developments).Scale: heightHeight can be expressed in terms of the numberScale is the size of a building in relation to its surroundings,of floors; height of parapet or ridge; overall height;or the size of parts of a building or its details, particularlyany of these in combination; a ratio of building heightin relation to the size of a person. Height determines theto street or space width; height relative to particularimpact of development on views, vistas and skylines.landmarks or background buildings; or strategic views.Scale: massingThe combined effect of the arrangement, volume andMassing is the three-dimensional expression of theshape of a building or group of buildings in relation toamount of development on a given piece of land.other buildings and spaces.Appearance: detailsThis includes all building elements such as openingsThe craftsmanship, building techniques, decoration, stylesand bays; entrances and colonnades; balconiesand lighting of a building or structure.and roofscape; and the rhythm of the facade.Appearance: materialsThe richness of a building lies in its use ofThe texture, colour, pattern and durability of materials,materials which contribute to the attractivenessand how they are used.of its appearance and the character of an area.

section 2Aspects of development formUrban design objectives are, by themselves,abstract. They have an impact on people’s lives onlyby being translated into development. The formof buildings, structures and spaces is the physicalexpression of urban design. It is what influences thepattern of uses, activity and movement in a place,and the experiences of those who visit, live or workthere. This guide sets out the most importantcharacteristics of the physical form of developmentby articulating eight aspects. Together, these definethe overall layout of the place (in terms of its routesand building blocks); its scale (in terms of buildingheight and massing); its appearance (as expressedin details and use of materials); and its landscape(including all the public realm, built and green spaces).Objectives and developmentform brought togetherEffective design policy and design guidance is likelyto focus on how, in a particular context, developmentform can achieve the urban design objectives.The lists of objectives and aspects of form have beenproduced in order to encourage writers of policy andguidance and decision-makers to ask a series ofquestions that go deeper than generalisations. Thesequestions should draw together urban designobjectives and aspects of development form. Forexample, what form of layout would help to achievea particular objective in this context? What scale?And so on, depending on what is considered relevant.Guidance based on such systematic thinking will helpdevelopers and designers by moving beyond simpleexhortations that, for example, new developmentshould be ‘in character’.thinking about urban designUltimately, the development form which emergesas a result of such a process is more likely to resultin better designed places. Readers of this guide areencouraged to think in terms of objectives andform as they consider its advice and decide how toput it into practice in their own locality.17

by designurban design in the planning system: towards better practicePrompts to thinkingThe objectives are general and should be tailoredto the locality. This process can be helped by theseries of prompts to thinking about urban designset out in the next section of this guide. The promptsare unfolded under each of the urban designobjectives but they are closely related and are notunique to the objective under which they appear.Most importantly, they are prompts not rules. Theyare not rigid formulae to be followed slavishly.18In any real situation, some of these prompts willconflict and some will benefit some people morethan others. Good design results from considerationbeing given to a wide range of concerns and thecreative resolution of potential conflicts. For example,the height of a building might need to respond to ageneral pattern of buildings of no more than threestoreys, to the potential of high density developmentfor making the most of public transport and creatingvitality, to the value of creating a landmark toenhance views, to the need for a sense of enclosure,to the opportunity to enhance safety by naturalsurveillance, and to the need to avoid overshadowing.Responding to local characterEach of these might indicate a different height forthe building if they were to be considered separately.In the real world, the planning and design processmust lead to a solution that takes all concerns intoaccount. This depends on, first, a judgement ofhow important each is in the circumstances and,second, design skills capable of rising imaginativelyto the demands of a difficult brief.The prompts are followed by pointers to good design.Some prompts can be explained more simply thanothers, but this does not necessarily mean they areless important. Nor is the list exhaustive: evolvingpractice and special local conditions will always giverise to new ways of achieving better urban design.A successful place brings peopletogether for different reasons

section 2thinking about urban designThe list of urban design objectives is used as thebasis of the prompts which follow.CharacterA place with its own identityThe positive features of a place and its peoplecontribute to its special character and sense ofidentity. They include landscape, building traditionsand materials, patterns of local life, and other factorsthat make one place different from another. Thebest places are memorable, with a character whichpeople can appreciate easily.Many of the places which we now think of as beingpleasantly distinctive grew naturally in response tolocal circumstances. Where such distinctiveness isignored, new development may reflect only themarketing policies or corporate identities of nationaland international companies, the standard practicesand products of the building industry, or the latestfashions among design professionals. Developmentthat responds sensitively to the site and its setting,by contrast, is likely to create a place that is valuedand pleasing to the eye.Designing for local distinctiveness involves the creativereconciliation of local practices, on the one hand,with the latest technologies, building types and needs,on the other. Where there are no significant localtraditions, the challenge to create a distinctive placewill be all the greater. There is no reason whycharacter and innovation should not go together.New and old buildings can coexist happily withoutdisguising one as the other, if the design of thenew is a response to urban design objectives.Landscape is an important part of local identityConsider the site’s land form and character whenlaying out new development.– The three-dimensional shape of the landscape isthe basis for a development’s form (expressed inits layout and massing). Natural features can helpgive shape to a development and integrate it intothe wider area, contributing to a sense of place.– Conserving a site’s natural features provides fora better relationship between new developmentand its environment. Natural features includerivers and streams, wetlands, ponds and lakes,hills, trees, wildlife habitats and rock outcrops.– The local ecology can help to determine thecharacter and identity of both a developmentand the place of which it is a part.The modern building on the right responds to therobust character of traditional development inLondon Docklands19

by designurban design in the planning system: towards better practiceIntegrating new development into its landscapesetting reduces its impact on nature and reinforceslocal distinctiveness.– The layout, massing and landscape design ofdevelopment can be integrated successfully intothe wider landscape through using structureplanting, shelter belts, green wedges, and(along natural features, roads, rivers and canals)green corridors.– Reflecting plant species that are commonlocally will help planting in new development toreinforce the distinct natural qualities of a place.– Integrating new and existing development attheir boundaries maintains the continuity ofurban form and landscape.Responding to the existing layout of buildings,streets and spaces ensures that adjacent buildingsrelate to one another, streets are connected andspaces complement one another.– The existing layout of an area reflects its history,functions and connections with adjoining areas.These can contribute to the interest and richnessof new development, and to its potential toaccommodate further change in future.– Integrating existing buildings and structures intonew development can maintain the continuity ofthe built fabric as well as retaining buildings oflocal distinctiveness, historic or townscape merit.– Narrow plot widths promote more activefrontages, increase the sense of enclosure andallow higher densities. They are particularlyappropriate where they reflect existingsettlement patterns.20Responding to local building forms and patterns ofdevelopment in the detailed layout and design ofdevelopment helps to reinforce a sense of place. Skylines are sensitive to being obscured by highbuildings in front of existing buildings or having theirsilhouette spoiled by high buildings behind them– Local building forms and details contribute tothe distinctive qualities of a place. These canbe successfully interpreted in new developmentwithout necessarily restricting the scope of thedesigner. Standard solutions are rarely acceptable,as they are unlikely to create a distinctiveidentity or make good use of a particular site.– Local building forms sometimes include distincthousing types, boundary treatments, buildinglines, roof slopes, window types and gardens.– Responding to such forms and practices shouldonly be at the appropriate scale. The commonpractice of inflating traditional domestic formsto larger scales is generally to be avoided.

section 2The use of local materials, building methods anddetails is a major factor in enhancing localdistinctiveness.– The scale, texture and colour of building materialsreflects an area’s special function and character.thinking about urban designshould only stand out from the backgroundof buildings if it contributes positively to viewsand vistas as a landmark. Buildings which havefunctions of civic importance are one example.– Every element of the street scene contributesto the identity of the place, including sculpture,lighting, railings, litter bins, paving, fountains andstreet furniture.– Development can be enhanced by reflectinglocal art and craft traditions. These might relateto elements such as ironwork, stained glass,thatching, brickwork, masonry, walling andpaving. They should not be add-ons or afterthoughts, but part of the design from the start.Creating a clearly defined urban edgeContinuity and enclosureA place where public and private spaces areclearly distinguishedThe scale, massing and height of proposeddevelopment should be considered in relation tothat of adjoining buildings; the topography; thegeneral pattern of heights in the area; and views,vistas and landmarks.– Relating new development to the generalpattern of building heights should not precludea degree of variety to reflect particularcircumstances. The character of townscapedepends on how individual buildings contributeto a harmonious whole, through relating tothe scale of their neighbours and creating acontinuous urban form.– On a sloping site, buildings that sit on the realground and step up the hill are more likely tocontribute to local character and avoid blankwalls at ground level than large monolithic slabsthat ignore the topography.– The massing of development contributes tocreating distinctive skylines in cities, towns andvillages, or to respecting existing skylines. Thecharacter of a skyline is composed of themassing of blocks and the shape

THE NEED FOR BETTER URBAN DESIGN 8 Purpose of the guide 8 Urban design 8 Place-making 9 The role of the planning system 9 Towards better practice 10 THINKING ABOUT URBAN DESIGN 14 Objectives of urban design 14 Aspects of development form 16 Objectives and development form brought together 17 Prompts to thinking 18 URBAN DESIGN AND THE PLANNING .