Design signposts

Title: Design review: principles and practice
Publisher: CABE, RTPI, RIBA and Landscape Institute Date: February 2013 Resource: Guidance and case studiesDescription: Explains how design review can support good design through the planning process and how to set up and run a design review panel.

Title: Residential quality and density case studies
Publisher: RTPI Urban Design Network
Date: June 2010
Resource: Case studies
Description: Case studies demonstrating how the challenge of delivering high density residential development, whilst still ensuring places of quality can be achieved.

Title: Urban design framework for Stratford on Avon RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Commendation
Publisher: Stratford on Avon District Council
Date: 2007
Resource: Case study, urban design framework
Description: Supplementary planning document, produced jointly with Warwickshire County Council and other key stakeholders. It provides an overall framework for future development and improvement of the town in terms of the built environment, public realm and transport.

Title: Library of urban design online
Publisher: Architecture and Design Scotland
Date: Launched January 2009
Resource: Website
Description: An online reference library of weblinks related to a broad scope of urban design issues, includes a range of materials from research papers through to podcasts.

Title: Good design: the fundamentals
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: January 2009
Resource: Policy document
Description: Sets out why architecture and urban design are such important cultural assets. It also tackles some of the lame excuses often given for poor designs.

Title: Building case studies database
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: Ongoing
Resource: Case studies
Description: Searchable database of hundreds of examples of the best buildings and places in the country, from large-scale plans for city centres to shops and theatres.

Title: Manual for Streets RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Department for Transport
Date: December 2007
Resource: Guidance
Description: Provides guidance for practitioners involved in the planning, design, provision and approval of new residential streets, and modifications to existing ones. It aims to increase the quality of life through good design, which creates more people-orientated streets.

Title: Sheffields gold route RTPI Planning Awards 2007 Winner
Publisher: Sheffield City Council
Date: 2008
Resource: Case study public realm
Description: A series of streets and spaces forming a pedestrian network designed to attract visitors and linking key parts of the city centre. Each space has a distinctive character, but there is a common theme of water, natural materials and crafted metal. Recognises the importance the public realm plays in stimulating economic and cultural regeneration.

Title: This way to better residential streets
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: April 2009
Resource: Briefing/case studies
Description: Investigates residential street design using examples from England and Scotland. It identifies common problems, explains how good design helps to connect and structure neighbourhoods and makes recommendations for improvement.

Title: South Gate, Totnes
Publisher: Housing Design Awards
Date: July 2009
Resource: Case study housing design
Description: South Hams District Council worked with local community group and ran design competitions to find the scheme local residents would want.

Title: Building for life
Publisher: Building for Life
Date: Ongoing
Resource: Website
Description: The national standard for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods. The 20 criteria are used to assess the quality of new housing schemes and to judge the building for life awards, which have been endorsed by DCLG.

Title: Evaluating housing proposals step by step
Publisher: Building for Life
Date: 2008
Resource: Toolkit
Description: Explains in detail how to help assess and compare the quality of proposed developments using the building for life criteria. It gives examples of the materials a design team should prepare to help an assessor understand the design thinking behind a development.

Title: Code for sustainable homes: technical guide
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: November 2010
Resource: Technical guide
Description: Updated. Sets out the requirements for the code. It aims to make gaining a code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible. 

Title: Creating a sense of place: a design guide
Publisher: The Princes Foundation
Date: February 2006
Resource: Guidance
Description: Deals with the appearance, construction and layout of affordable housing designed for villages and small towns and addresses the good planning, integration and aesthetic appearance of affordable housing.

Title: Healthy design principles for use in the health impact assessment of mixed residential developments
Publisher: Birley HIA
Date: 2007
Resource: Guidance
Description: Intended for use at the masterplanning stage, when preparing documents in support of outline planning permission.

Title: Designed with care: design and neighbourhood healthcare buildings
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and Built Environment
Date: 2006
Resource: Case study report
Description: Presents 15 case studies of new healthcare buildings that have challenged existing ways of working; responded to the needs of their neighbourhood; created a human and reassuring environment; used space and light to create a calming atmosphere and developed an inclusive design ethos from the outset.

Title: Inclusion by design: equality, diversity and the built environment
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: November 2008
Resource: Briefing note with case studies
Description: Examines a broad meaning of inclusion, not just access and sets out CABEs position on equality, diversity and the built environment. Provides examples demonstrating how good design can help create places that work for everyone.

Title: The Access Association
Publisher: The Access Association
Date: Ongoing
Resource: Website
Description: Membership organisation for access officer which aims to improve access and facilities for disabled people and consequently for all people who would benefit from an accessible environment.

Title: Centre for Accessible Environments
Publisher: Centre for Accessible Environments
Date: Ongoing
Resource: Website
Description: Membership organisation providing advice and information on inclusive design and access to the built environment for disabled and older people.

Title: The principles of inclusive design (they include you)
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: 2006
Resource: Guidance
Description: Sets out the five key principles at the heart of good design that is about more than meeting the needs of disabled people.

Title: Access all areas: planning for an inclusive environment
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: 2007
Resource: Case studies
Description: Gives practical examples of how some councils are working to achieve inclusive and accessible environments by incorporating the philosophy and principles of inclusive design into their policies and supplementary planning documents and into their decision making.

Title: Home for our old age: independent living by design
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: September 2009
Resource: Case studies
Description: Features 10 case studies of housing schemes for older people, which provide inventive design and management solutions linking home and social care.