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Planning Application Design and Access Statements


Design and Access Statements (DAS)

Central Government is looking for improvements to the quality of planning applications submitted and more importantly the quality of decisions made and the resultant development.

In its guidance, Planning Policy Statement 1 states:

"Good design ensures attractive, usable, durable and adaptable places and is a key element in achieving sustainable development. Good design is indivisible from good planning. Planning authorities should plan positively for the achievement of high quality and inclusive design for all development, including individual buildings, public and private spaces and wider area development schemes. Good design should contribute positively to making places better for people. Design which is inappropriate in its context, or which fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions, should not be accepted."

A DAS is a report accompanying and supporting a planning application to illustrate the process that has led to the development proposal, and to explain and justify the proposal in a structured way.

Important changes to the requirements for a DAS took place on 6th April 2010.

This GUIDANCE NOTE explains the changes.

A DAS is not required for the approval of reserved matters, applications relating to advertisement control, works to preserved trees or storage of hazardous substances.

IF A DAS IS REQUIRED AND NOT SUBMITTED OR IS INCOMPLETE WE WILL RETURN YOUR APPLICATION

USEFUL DOCUMENTS AND GUIDANCE:

Essex design initiative - Essex Design Guide and Urban Space Supplement

The above links will open an adobe acrobat pdf document and you will need the free adobe acrobat reader software to open it.

Design and Access Statement guidance from CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment)

Powerpoint presentation by Urban design London and CABE giving guidance for Design and Access Statements

Professional Guidance:

Statutory Instrument 2006. 1062

Statutory Instrument 2006. 1063



Page Last Updated
20 May 2010