Updated national design guidance has been published byte government that sets out standards for new neighbourhoods, including connectivity to local shops and services.
The guidance covers aspects such as home layouts, space for working from home, and flexible designs that adapt to changing family needs. It also addresses climate considerations, including shading and flood risk mitigation, and encourages the inclusion of green spaces and traffic-calming measures.
Councils and developers are expected to use the guidance to plan local infrastructure and amenities, ensuring shops, services, and facilities like GP surgeries are accessible on foot. Model design codes are planned for release later this year to provide consistent rules for both smaller and larger developments.
Local authorities will continue to set area-specific requirements through local plans, masterplans, and design codes to guide new housing schemes.
Housing and planning minister Matthew Pennycook said: “Exemplary development should be the norm not the exception so that more communities feel the benefits of new development and welcome it.
“As we act to boost housing supply, we are also taking steps to improve the design and quality of the homes and neighbourhoods being built.
“These standards will help ensure new homes and neighbourhoods are attractive, well-connected, sustainable, and built to last.”
This latest guidance supports the government’s revamp of the National Planning Policy Framework, currently out for consultation.
The government says the seven features of well-designed places are:
+ Liveability: Homes close to amenities, designed for all stages of life, with communal and private space.
+ Climate: Buildings that cope with climate change, green spaces to reduce overheating, solar panels, green and brown roofs, and EV charging stations.
+ Nature: Hedgehog highways, swift bricks, green spaces and parks, and protection for existing natural features.
+ Movement: Safe streets, accessible public transport, and good parking without car dominated design.
+ Built Form: Rooms sized to promote health and wellbeing, with good storage, minimising outside noise, privacy and security, sunlight, and good ventilation.
+ Public Space: well-located spaces that encourage social interaction, with natural surveillance from windows and balconies.
+ Identity: Character shaped by local history, culture, and landscape, reflected in building types, and architectural details.
Reflecting on the government announcement, Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, commented: “Propertymark welcomes the UK government’s commitment to ensure new housing developments bring a revitalised approach to structuring new communities from the ground upwards. Propertymark has long campaigned for an infrastructure-first approach to housebuilding and new build developments, so it is encouraging to see the UK Government reflect this call for action in its updated design guidance.
“Developing new communities alongside delivering wide-ranging local services, transport links, and key community infrastructure is vital to creating sustainable and thriving neighbourhoods that people aspire to live in.
“Equally important for consumer confidence is further developing a professionalised and qualified estate agency structure to support the new build sales market.
“Propertymark looks forward to continuing to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government on reforming home buying and selling, and introducing minimum operating standards across the property sector to enhance standards regarding consumer protection. By combining high-quality design and build standards, well-thought-out infrastructure, and robust professional standards, we can help ensure that new developments are not only meeting housing targets but also genuinely constructing future-proof communities for generations to come.”