Urban design covers: - The relationship between different buildings and the streets, squares, parks and other spaces which make up the public domain
- The nature and quality of that public realm
- The relationship between different parts of the area
- The complex relationships between the patterns of movement and activities of the people who live and use the urban area
We can give detailed design guidance – either through supplementary planning guidance or through direct design advice – to developers, the public, council officers and councillors.
Urban design checklist
We have drawn up a checklist to provide additional planning guidance on design matters covered by the South Gloucestershire Local Plan (adopted January 2006). Its aim is to help achieve good quality, sustainable design that is sensitive both to its local context and the environment.
The checklist asks 50 questions grouped into 10 topics. The questions apply to all types of development across South Gloucestershire but they will have a different significance depending on the type of development and the proposed site.
The checklist has strategic topics first, followed by more detailed topics. It follows a logical order, taking you through the development process.
Each topic has a separate page highlighting the main issues, providing definitions, outlining policies and suggesting further reading. The topics are interdependent, so you need to read the whole document rather than cherry-pick individual topics and questions.
The checklist is currently in draft form. It was put out to public consultation in 2006. We will change it to take account of comments and then put it to the council for adoption as a supplementary planning document. That means it will be taken into account as a material consideration for planning applications.