We are excited to announce that Sandwell Council has started work on developing a Design Code.
A Design Code is a planning document that includes a set of design requirements for the physical development of an area. It will include a review and replacement of our existing Residential Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document. National Government requires all local authorities to establish design codes, and Sandwell is looking to develop a best practice borough-wide example.
The Council has appointed an experienced team led by Allies and Morrison Urban Practitioners and is currently engaging with local community groups to understand their priorities for design, local character, and new development in the borough.
We want local people to help steer what the Design Code says and want to encourage as many people as possible from across the borough to input and feed into the process from the outset.
What is a Design Code?
A Design Code is a set of simple, concise, design requirements for new development in an area, The government’s National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that all local planning authorities must prepare them.
The Design Code will establish a set of rules which all new development in the borough must adhere to through the planning process. It will help raise the quality of development across the borough as a whole and help ensure design proposals are directly informed by the character of distinct areas. Some examples of the aspects that design codes can cover include parameters for building height, parking provision and green or open space amenity.
Stage 1 – Understanding local character and priorities (June-August)
We are keen to know what you like about the character of your local area and what local issues that you think should be addressed by the Design Code.
An online survey is open for everyone to input their thoughts and comments. You can access the survey here.
At the end of Stage 1, we will post a summary of the community feedback and an outline of the next steps.
Further stages
Stage 2 will focus on establishing a vision for the design of new developments in the borough and scoping out the themes the Design Code will cover. We will be engaging with local stakeholders through the Autumn and Winter to steer and test the emerging work. After this, Stage 3 will involve drafting the codes in detail followed by wide public consultation on the draft Design Code.
