Delivering well-designed, high-quality places can be challenging given the number of considerations which need to be balanced, such as delivering enough homes to meet our needs, and making efficient use of land.
The existing 2030 Local Plan sets out several principles for well-designed places, across a number of policies, supported by our Design Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). New national planning policy and guidance will largely supersede these – with ‘substantial weight’ to be given to principles covering context, liveability, climate, nature, built form, public space, and identity.
New national planning policies also aim to conserve and enhance the historic environment. Whilst the new Local Plan can continue to identify Runnymede’s main heritage features and key issues facing them, national decision-making policies will largely supersede the heritage policies in our existing 2030 Local Plan.
At the same time, new national planning policies expect Local Plans to identify ways of accommodating as much as possible of the development we need on previously developed land, including by potentially setting minimum density standards. We will need to consider how this is best accommodated, accounting for the prevailing character and local context of each relevant area.
There is, however, scope to prepare locally specific design policies and standards to add further detail to these national policies, in response to local issues which would benefit from clear design expectations. For example, where an allocation site falls within a Conservation Area, site-specific requirements could help conserve and enhance the significance of the Area.
Design tools such as design guides, design codes, and masterplans can also be prepared to establish locally specific design principles and identify opportunities for making effective use of land. For example, we expect Longcross Garden Village to be informed by a site-specific design code.
We will need a better understanding of the emerging spatial strategy and potential development sites before we decide which tools will be necessary. We will also need to gather evidence to better understand existing context and character in emerging growth areas, and the capacity for sensitive change, including through increased densities.
Where design tools are considered to be necessary, we will work closely with local communities to ensure local aspirations are taken into account.
We recommend that you read a more detailed description of this matter in this topic paper before answering the following questions – which includes a summary of what we consider to be in and out of scope:
The following questions about this topic are included on the response form:
Q26. Do you agree with what the Council believes is in scope with regards to achieving well-designed buildings and places, which a new Local Plan could address? If not, please explain why.
Q27. Do you agree with what the Council believes is out of scope for this matter? If not, please explain why.
Q28. Do you agree that the focus of Runnymede design tools (e.g. masterplans or codes) should be on areas that provide the greatest opportunities for growth or change?
Q29. Do you have any views on design codes or other design tools for the different settlement areas in the Runnymede area, and whether these should come through the Local Plan, a Supplementary Plan, or Neighbourhood Plans?
Q30. Do you have any views on where in the Runnymede area density could be uplifted and/or where building upwards could help to help meet identified development needs?
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