We were interested to see the new version of the NPPF (2021) published on Tuesday. This sees the vast majority of the changes consulted upon in January brought into force. As a design-centred planning team, it is good to see design taking centre stage in the key changes proposed. In particular, recognition that “significant weight” should now be given to “development which reflects local design policies and government guidance on design, taking into account any local design guidance and supplementary planning documents such as design guides and codes”. That significant weight should also be given to “outstanding or innovative designs which promote high levels of sustainability, or help raise the standard of design more generally in an area” further reinforces this point.
The place of good design
The final National Model Design Code, which is published alongside, will provide the template for Local Planning Authorities to follow in developing the all-important local design guides/ codes. The prominence of “beauty” in the document, albeit as a statement of ambition, rather than a policy test, further cements the place of good design at the heart of the emerging planning system.
Further refinements include:
– The emphasis on using trees in new development, something so fundamental to community wellbeing, mitigating and adapting to climate change and adding long-term financial value to an area.
– Adjustments to the presumption in favour of sustainable development to reflect the issue of more sustainable urban form/ settlement patterns i.e. promoting growth around centres and transport hubs. This is long overdue.
– Reference to sustainable drainage systems and natural flood management techniques, which will be so critical to mitigating one of the biggest threats we face from climate change, while delivering enhanced biodiversity and community wellbeing.
Using the SDGs as a framework
It is also positive to finally see reference to the UN Sustainable Development Goals at the beginning of the document, albeit only six years late! As a practice that has recently placed the SDGs at the heart of our business plan, we firmly believe these should provide the wider framework to the planning system.
All-in-all, design is clearly moving higher up the planning agenda, with much of the above fundamentally just constituting sound urban design and being long overdue. Design and planning were decoupled back in the 1980s and the ‘design deficit’ in the planning toolbox has left a system floundering in seeking to create good places since. So, these are positive moves.
However, there is a substantial skills gap in the profession that remains to be filled to ensure these aspirations can be delivered, not least in the grossly under-funded public sector. We are yet to see meaningful proposals for how this will be addressed. Hopefully the Government’s response to the consultation feedback on the Planning White Paper (projected to emerge in the Autumn) will have the answers.
- Mike Fox, Planning Director