8 The Built and Historic Environment
The Contribution of Design to the Quality of the Built Environment
8.1 PPS1 ‘Delivering Sustainable Development’ (2005) recognises that 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. In addition, high quality design and the layout of new development can increase the density of developments and help to achieve the Government’s objectives of making the best use of previously developed land as advocated in PPG3 ‘Housing’ (2000). Four publications supplement PPG and PPS advice and aim to provide guidance on many aspects of the urban design process and reflect good practice. These are ‘By Design - Urban Design In The Planning System: Towards Better Practice, A Companion Guide to PPG3’ (CABE/DTLR 2000); ' By Design - Better Places to Live' (DTLR 2001);' Safer Places - the Planning System and Crime' (OPDM/Home Office 2003) and 'Planning and Access for Disabled People: A Good Practice Guide' (OPDM 2003). PPS1 also recognises that the appearance of proposed development and its relationship to its surroundings are material considerations in determining planning applications. Such considerations not only relate to the appearance of buildings and environments but also to the way they function. Calderdale has a unique architectural heritage of high quality. The rich variety of architectural and historic features of the District should be protected and enhanced for the benefit of future generations. Alterations to existing buildings and new development should be designed to create a built environment that complements the area's unique identity and contributes to its special character. Good design plays an important part in achieving the Council’s corporate priority of securing a clean and attractive built and natural environment, and can also assist in raising the quality of life in urban and rural settlements by improving the environment as advocated in Policy S4 of the Regional Spatial Strategy for Yorkshire and the Humber (2004).
8.2 Good design is an essential component of all new developments and this section aims to set out clear policy to assist in achieving high standards. Therefore, the following Part One Policy should be considered when assessing the design of a new development.
POLICY GBE 1
THE CONTRIBUTION OF DESIGN TO THE QUALITY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE HIGH STANDARDS OF DESIGN THAT MAKES A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE QUALITY OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. IN PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT SHOULD:-- PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE FORMS OF DEVELOPMENT AND EMBRACE THE OBJECTIVES OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN;
- PROMOTE COMMUNITY SAFETY INCLUDING CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES;
- CREATE OR RETAIN A SENSE OF LOCAL IDENTITY;
- CREATE ROADS, FOOTPATHS AND PUBLIC SPACES THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE AND SAFE, AND PUT SUSTAINABLE FORMS OF TRANSPORT, IN PARTICULAR WALKING, CYCLING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT, BEFORE OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES;
- PROMOTE ACCESSIBILITY BY CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS THAT ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN EASILY REACH AND ENTER;
- PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE DISTRICT’S ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORIC HERITAGE, LANDSCAPE AND AMENITY, AND CONTRIBUTE TO ITS SPECIAL CHARACTER; AND
- NOT HARM THE CHARACTER OR QUALITY OF THE WIDER ENVIRONMENT AND ENCOURAGE FURTHER GREENING OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVE LOCAL BIODIVERSITY.