Lidsing Garden Community SPD

Appendix C:

Design Coding and the 10 Characteristics of Good Design

In relation to 'Context'

Design Codes must demonstrate how proposals for the Garden Community have evolved based on a sound understanding of the context, history and character of an area. This must show how proposals are:

• integrated into their surroundings and relate to them;
• influenced by and influence their context positively; and
• responsive to local history, culture, heritage.

In relation to 'Movement'

Design Codes must demonstrate how proposals have incorporated a well-designed movement network and suitable hierarchy of street types that:

• is safe and accessible for all;
• functions efficiently to get everyone around, takes account of the diverse needs of all its potential users and provides a genuine choice of sustainable transport modes;
• limits the impacts of car use by prioritising and encouraging walking, cycling and public transport, mitigating impacts and identifying opportunities to improve air quality;
• promotes activity and social interaction, contributing to health, well-being, accessibility and inclusion; and
• incorporates green infrastructure, including street trees to soften the impact of car parking, help improve air quality and contribute to biodiversity.

In relation to 'Nature'

Design Codes must demonstrate how proposals enhance the natural as well as the built environment and ensure that nature and the historic landscape is woven into the design of the place. This must show how proposals:

• integrate with existing, and incorporate new natural features to create a multifunctional network that supports quality of place, biodiversity and water management, and addresses climate change mitigation and resilience;
• prioritise nature so that diverse ecosystems can flourish to ensure a healthy natural environment that supports and enhances biodiversity;
• provide attractive open spaces in locations that are easy to access, with activities for all to enjoy, such as play, food production, recreation and sport, so as to encourage physical activity and promote health, well- being and social inclusion.

In relation to 'Built Form'

Design Codes must demonstrate how proposals will create a coherent and compact place that:

• incorporate compact forms of development that are walkable, contributing positively to well-being and placemaking;
• contain accessible local public transport, services and facilities, to ensure sustainable development;
• include recognisable streets and other spaces with their edges defined by buildings, making it easy for anyone to find their way around, and promoting safety and accessibility; and
• have memorable features or groupings of buildings, spaces, uses or activities that create a sense of place, promoting inclusion and cohesion.

In relation to 'Identity'

Design Codes must demonstrate how the Garden Community responds to the character of the local area in the way that it has been planned, its natural environment and the use of its buildings and the design of its buildings and public spaces, This must show how the proposals:

• have a positive and coherent identity that everyone can identify with, including residents and local communities, so contributing towards health and well-being, inclusion and cohesion;

• have a character that suits the context, its history, how we live today and how we are likely to live in the future; and
• are visually attractive, to delight their occupants and other users.

In relation to 'Public Space'

Design Codes must demonstrate how public spaces within the Garden Community will create a healthy and successful place, encourage social interaction, and integrate with movement corridors and a wide mix of uses. Proposals must:

• include well-located public spaces that support a wide variety of activities and encourage social interaction, to promote health, well-being, social and civic inclusion;
• have a hierarchy of spaces that range from large and strategic to small and local spaces, including parks, squares, greens and pocket parks;
• have public spaces that feel safe, secure and attractive for all to use; and
• have trees and other planting within public spaces for people to enjoy, whilst also providing shading, and air quality and climate change mitigation.

In relation to 'Use'

Design Codes must demonstrate how the Garden Community contains a mix of uses that support everyday activities, including to live and work including:

• a mix of uses including local services and facilities to support daily life;
• an integrated mix of housing tenures and types to suit people at all stages of life; and
• well-integrated housing and other facilities that are designed to be tenure neutral and socially inclusive.

In relation to 'Homes & Buildings'

Design Codes must demonstrate how the Garden Community contains well-designed homes and buildings that are functional, accessible, meet a diverse range of needs, are adequate in size, fit for purpose, adaptable and sustainable. Proposals must:

• provide good quality internal and external environments for their users, promoting health and well-being;
• relate positively to the private, shared and public spaces around them, contributing to social interaction and inclusion; and
• resolve the details of operation and servicing so that they are unobtrusive and well- integrated into their neighbourhoods.

In relation to 'Resources'

Design Codes must demonstrate how the Garden Community will conserve natural resources including buildings, land, water, energy and materials including measures to achieve: mitigation, primarily by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimising embodied energy; and adaptation to anticipated events, such as rising temperatures and the increasing risk of flooding. This must include demonstrating that proposals:

• have a layout, form and mix of uses that reduces their resource requirement, including for land, energy and water;
• are fit for purpose and adaptable over time, reducing the need for redevelopment and unnecessary waste;
• use materials and adopt technologies to minimise their environmental impact.

In relation to 'Lifespan'

Design Codes must demonstrate how the Garden Community will sustain beauty over the long term, be designed for long-term stewardship, enable their users to establish a sense of ownership, adapt to changing needs and are well maintained. This must include demonstrating that places, buildings and spaces have been:

• designed and planned for long-term stewardship by landowners, communities and local authorities from the earliest stages;
• robust, easy to use and look after, and enable their users to establish a sense of ownership and belonging, ensuring places and buildings age gracefully;
• adaptable to their users' changing needs and evolving technologies; and
• well-managed and maintained by their users, owners, landlords and public agencies.