National Model Design Code

1 National Model Design Code Part 1. The Coding Process 1. Contents Part 1 - The Coding Process Part 2 - Guidance Notes (separate document). Code Content Community Engagement Appendix Coding 1. Crown copyright, 2021. Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the 2. Crown. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence visit Design 11. Coding licence/version/3/. This document/publication is also available on our website at * Glossary, references and credits are If you have any enquiries regarding this document/. included in this document and cover the 3. publication, complete the form at http://forms. content of both Part 1 - The Coding Process or write to us at: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Fry Building Guidance for Area and Part 2 - Guidance Notes Code Wide 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF.

2 Telephone: 030 3444 0000. For all our latest news and updates follow us on Twitter: Glossary ** Where reference is made to the National Model Design Code (NMDC) this refers to June 2021 References both Part 1 The Coding Process and Part 2. Credits The Guidance Notes The Coding Process Purpose 1. The purpose of the 2. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that all local planning 5. A Design code is a set of simple, concise, illustrated Design requirements that are visual National Model Design authorities should prepare Design guides or and numerical wherever possible to provide codes consistent with the principles set out specific, detailed parameters for the physical Code is to provide detailed in the National Design Guide and National development of a site or area. This guide is a guidance on the production Model Design Code, and which reflect toolkit to guide local planning authorities on local character and Design preferences.

3 The Design parameters and issues that need of Design codes, guides Design codes and guides should provide a to be considered and tailored to their own and policies to promote framework for creating high-quality places. context when producing Design codes and guides, as well as methods to capture and successful Design . It 3. It also makes clear that the geographic reflect the views of the local community from coverage, level of detail and degree of expands on the ten prescription should be tailored to the the outset, and at each stage in the process. characteristics of good circumstances and scale of change in each place, and should allow a suitable 6. The National Model Design Code forms part of the government's planning practice Design set out in the National degree of variety. guidance and should be read as part of the Design Guide, which reflects 4.

4 The tools, processes and outputs National Design Guide, and alongside the planning practice guidance notes referenced the government's priorities described in this guidance can be applied in Part 3 of the National Design Guide, to the range of Design advice produced by Manual for Streets, and other forthcoming and provides a common local authorities, including Design codes guidance relating to the natural and overarching framework for and Design guides. The content and level of detail in Design codes or Design guides will environmental characteristics of development . This guidance is not a statement of National Design . vary according to the scale at which a code policy, however, the government recommends is applied, whether at county, local authority, that the advice in this guidance on how to neighbourhood or site level. For example, prepare Design codes and guides is to be for a site with a masterplan and vision the followed.

5 Code should be detailed and specific whereas a county-wide code may be high level. 1. Objectives 9. Design codes are important because 11. The National Model Design Code sets they provide a framework for creating healthy, a baseline standard of quality and practice 7. This guidance sets out safe, green, environmentally responsive, which local planning authorities are expected to take into account when developing sustainable and distinctive places, with a clear Design parameters consistent and high-quality standard of local Design codes and guides and when to help local authorities and Design . This can provide greater certainty for communities about the Design of determining planning applications, including;. communities decide what development and bring conversations about How the Design of new development should enhance the health and wellbeing Design to the start of the planning process, good quality Design looks rather than the end.

6 The built environment has of local communities and create like in their area, based on a significant impact on people's health and safe, inclusive, accessible and active environments;. wellbeing. It needs to feel safe and secure for local aspirations for how all including those who could be vulnerable. How landscape, green infrastructure and biodiversity should be approached their area will develop, Creating more beautiful places requires a greener approach that supports progress including the importance of streets being following appropriate local towards our National environmental goals. tree-lined;. The environmental performance of place consultation. This means more energy efficient buildings, enhancing nature, integrating with the natural and buildings ensuring they contribute to environment creating more resilient places net zero targets;. and delivering progress towards to the net The layout of new development , including zero carbon target by 2050.

7 Infrastructure and street pattern;. 8. The National Model Design Code sets out The factors to be considered when Design considerations which local planning 10. The government understands that quality determining whether fa ades of buildings authorities will be expected to take into Design does not look the same across are of sufficiently high quality and;. account when developing local Design codes different areas of the country, for instance, That developments should take account and guides and when determining planning that by definition, local vernacular differs and of local vernacular, character, heritage, applications. Design priorities differ for scale and types of architecture and materials. development . 2. signed p 12. Design codes can provide a more 14. When preparing Design codes and well-de lac specific steer on what is acceptable when guides, communities need to be involved A e they are visual and numerical rather than in the process in order to gain measurable relying on detailed policy wording, as well as community support that is appropriate for esp an Cont ext C.

8 Lif being easier to engage with. They can also the scale and location of new development . h e I. es a Made to last Enhances the at give developers greater certainty about what Design codes should be prepared in light of de ra surroundings c ur nt may be acceptable when seeking planning information about what is popular locally, on m so ity ct Re Efficient and Attractive and Cli permission, and can help lead to faster the basis of evidence. This will address the resilient distinctive er decisions based on whether a proposal ambition in a new planning system to bring Homes and buildings B u il t f o r m A coherent Functional, healthy complies with a code, which can help to democracy forward so that communities pattern of and sustainable development speed up the delivery of development . decide what good Design means locally and Accessible and that this is enshrined in Design codes and Mixed and integrated easy to move around t 13.

9 For larger schemes, such as phased en guides. Us em Enhanced developments, Design codes can help es Safe, social and ov and inclusive optimised M. to maintain consistency in the delivery of 15. The National Planning Policy Pu sp blic ure development over a longer period of time. Framework sets out that the National ace s Nat Co y Codes also set out a necessary level of Design Guide and National Model Design m m u nit detail in sensitive locations, for example, with Code should be used to guide decisions heritage considerations, and they can set on applications in the absence of locally out specific ways to maintain local character. produced guides or codes. These documents 10 Characteristics of Well Designed Places Design codes and guides can also be helpful provide guidance on what constitutes ( National Design Guide Extract). in facilitating custom and self-build.

10 They can well-designed and beautiful places as well help facilitate the use of modern methods as providing a default checklist of issues of construction and should not constrain that schemes will be expected to address. technical and environmental innovation. 3. Application 16. This document should 17. The document provides Design guidance and needs to be used alongside the National and environmental circumstances change and subject to support from local be used as a basis for the Design Guide to inform local Design guides communities. and codes as well as decisions on planning production of Design codes applications. The area covered by the 19. The National Planning Policy Framework and guides by local planning Design code and the level of detail is to be is clear that Design policies should be developed with local communities, determined locally. A coding plan will be authorities.