Design Codes & Standards - their use and value

New research from UCL's Bartlett School of Planning has evaluated the diffusion of design coding as a tool in the planning and development process.  The research comes at a time when the recently released National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) explicitly endorses their use by local planning authorities to help deliver higher quality design outcomes. The UCL research was based on a national survey of local planning authorities and urban design consultancies.

Headline findings include: 

• In excess of a third of local planning authorities have had design codes produced for them, either through requiring or commissioning them, or otherwise through developers voluntarily submitting them as part of a planning application.
• The use of design codes is advocated in policy in a quarter of local planning authorities, and this is rapidly increasing.
• Around the two thirds of urban design consultancies have experience of producing design codes.
• A significant element of diffusion is being driven by private developers, landowners or consultants submitting unsolicited design codes as part of planning applications.

 This Network event will explore the benefits that the use and dissemination of design codes might have.

The speakers will be Prof Matthew Carmona from UCL and Alex Ely, Partner at mae Architects. Matthew co-authored the research report and Alex has been involved in the development of design standards and codes with the Mayor for London and CABE at the Design Council. Those attending will be encouraged to share their experience and views on the topic.