Planning Practice Note
Design in South Shropshire
INTRODUCTION
This Practice Note is intended to assist anyone thinking of:
- building a new building;
- making extensions, alterations or other improvements to an existing building;
- whether or not they need planning permission, listed building consent and/or building regulation approval.
Most developments need planning permission and/or listed building consent from the LPA. Most developments need Building Regulation approval from Local Authority Building Control or other Building Control Body. Your designer will be able to advise you on this. Advice is also available from the LPA.
THE IMPORTANCE AND VALUE OF GOOD DESIGN
Few people would say that the design was not a very important factor in their choice of a car. It is surprising, therefore, that some people give little consideration to the design of their house (which may be their biggest single purchase of their life) or other building work.
It is important that design is not just seen as one of the hurdles necessary to get planning permission and Building Regulation approval. It is a very important matter with serious implications for your proposal:
- its cost;
- its running costs;
- its 'liveability' and usefulness;
- its value.
Before appointing an architect or designer for your scheme, you should consider asking more than one architect or designer:
- to discuss your ideas with you;
- to indicate how (s)he would tackle the design;
- what the budget building cost should be;
- to show you buildings (s)he has designed for other people;
- to introduce you to former clients who are pleased with his/her work.
It is important to know in advance what design fees you will have to pay. However, it is wrong to consider design fees in isolation. A low fee quotation may mean that the designer does not intend to spend much time on the work. This could give rise to a poorly designed, inefficient or expensive building.
The LPA is unable to give advice on the appointment of architects and designers. It would be difficult to do this in a way that appeared fair to everyone. This must not be taken to indicate a lack of concern for design quality: the LPA will not give consent for poorly designed schemes. The Council, however showcase good environmental design.
BEST PRACTICE
The brief
It is important that the architect of designer fully understands what you expect him/her to do. This is often outlined in writing and deals with such matters as:
- what accommodation you think you need;
- how you intend to use it.
Don't have preconceived ideas about what your scheme should be like. Discuss all aspects, including the practicalities, with your architect or designer. (S)he will be more experienced than you and will beneficially contribute to the development of the brief. (S)he is the designer - let him/her do the work.
Be careful not to rely on your own taste alone. The value of your property will ultimately depend on what other people are prepared to pay for it. Schemes that are ill-conceived or poorly designed can result in considerable loss of value and/or make the property difficult to sell.
Context
Context is an important aspect of building design and contextual statements such as Design and Access statements are often a requirement for planning applications. Important issues are:
- what is the general character of the area, such as landscape, townscape and neighbouring buildings?
- what is the topography of the site and the area, and how will these influence the sort of building proposed?
- what can you learn about local materials and building techniques from looking at neighbouring property?
- orientation - which way should the various parts of your scheme face to make best use of privacy, views, light and passive solar gain?
- setting - how will the proposal relate to the site and its gardens or landscaping?
- sustainable construction and micro energy generation, meeing Eco Homes very good standard.
Scale
Scale means the size of a proposal in relation to its function and surroundings. In small towns and villages, and in the open countryside, buildings are usually relatively small in scale. In order to make a positive contribution to their context and setting, new buildings should have an appropriate scale. Affordable dwellings are limited to 100sqm gross internal floor space.
Care needs to be taken with the following relationships:
the proposal to its site;
- the proposal to neighbouring buildings and the townscape or landscape, particularly as regards height and bulk;
- the span of the roof to the overall massing of the scheme (generally roof spans should be kept short);
- if the proposal is the extension of an existing building, the extension should appear secondary to the original building;
- the scale of lesser elements of the design (such as windows and doors) to those on neighbouring buildings.
Style
The LPA favours good modern architecture if this is achievable. It is important that new buildings reflect the spirit of the age in which they were built. In some circumstances. however, buildings in historic styles may be appropriate. What is important, if this approach is taken, is that the historic style is used accurately. Poor quality pastiche will not be acceptable.
Details
Architectural details are vitally important to a good design, whatever style is used. Particular attention should be given to local traditions in:
- brickwork and stonework;
- roofs and eaves and verge detailing;
- windows and doors, setting frames well into openings (40mm minimum) to give strong shadow lines;
- mouldings with a variety of surfaces that will catch the light and give 'life' to the elevations.
Materials
Often the success of a new building (in its setting) depends on the use of locally occurring materials. Nothing jars more than a new building with the wrong colour of brick or stonework not laid in the local tradition. The LPA has done much in recent years to promote the availability of appropriate materials for use in South Shropshire and there are now several sources of appropriate bricks, stone and joinery items such as windows and doors.
Landscaping
The way in which a new building fits in to its landscape or townscape setting is a crucial aspect of its design. This aspect should be considered at the earliest design stage. Hard and soft landscaping should reflect the character of the locality. In particular, the use of locally occurring native trees and shrubs will help to ensure that soft landscaping thrives.
PRE-APPLICATION ADVICE
Planning Officers are pleased to give advice before a planning application is made. This should take place at the earliest possible stage, before you are committed to an approach that may not be acceptable.
Officer comments are given in good faith to help applicants and their designers understand what is likely to be required. However they always stress that pre-application discussions are separate from the formal process of determining a planning application and the officer advice does not bind the Council or its officers at the application stage.
CONTACTS
Planning suppport Tel: (01584) 813000
RIBA Client Advisory Service
Tel 0121 233 2321
© Copyright South Shropshire District Council,
Stone House, Corve Street,
Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 1DG.
Tel: (01584) 813000
Fax: (01584) 813128
e-mail: planning_ssdc@btconnect.com
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Subscribe to changes to this page here.Author: Planning and Building Control. Last Updated: 13/2/2007.
