Another hollow statement on a policy intention that will not happen without significant investment in time and resources by every planning authority. This at exactly the same time as councils are dealing with 40%+ funding cuts, an ever increasing demand on services and the still increasing cost of dealing with the Covid pandemic.

Unless each Local Planning Authority invests several, if not tens of thousands of pounds in a local design guide, developers will use the appeal process to thwart every attempt to lift the quality of their developments beyond the normally mediocre and often depressing.

‘New design standards
Local communities are to be given the power to set design standards for all new developments, under plans announced by the Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick. Developers will be required to make sure all new properties adhere to the character of the areas where they are being built. Any planning proposal that fails to meet the new criteria will be automatically rejected by councils as part of efforts to eliminate “identikit” housing estates. Councils will be expected to draw up their own individual design codes in consultation with local residents, supported by a new national Office for Place which will advise councils developing their plans.’

Times – Beauty will be in the eye of the council (£)