National planning policy

Government planning guidance endorses design quality, and makes clear it is an essential part of creating sustainable places.

Planning policy statement 1 on sustainable development tells us

• "good design is indivisible from good planning"
• design must be of high quality
• opportunities should be taken to improve the character and quality of an area.

Planning policy statement 3 on housing:

• sets out design matters for local authorities to consider when assessing planning applications
• requires local authorities and regional planning bodies to monitor design quality.

Design at a glance has a list of policy references you might find useful.

By design - urban design in the planning system: towards better practice provides sound, practical advice to help implement the government`s commitment to good design.

The Planning Act 2008 has introduced a statutory duty to ‘have regard to the desirability of achieving good design.’