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PLANNING Bulletin Issue No 21

Designing Places

Graham Square,
Glasgow

The launch of the policy statement Designing Places (2001) was a significant step forward in demonstrating how the value of design can contribute to the quality of all our lives. It also marked the starting point for a series of actions and initiatives, which would support the general thrust of raising design awareness. In particular, the Scottish Executive has pursued two strands of follow up work. One has focused on policy and advice, while the other has been addressing education, skills and training.

Policy and Advice

SPP1 The Planning System (revised 2002) sets out the key principles of land use planning in Scotland and reinforces the message that design is a material consideration in determining planning applications. SPP2 repeats this message in relation to new business and industrial development. A council may refuse an application, and defend the refusal at appeal, solely on design grounds.

Coalhill, Leith, Edinburgh

PANs on Housing Quality and Design Statements will be published next year. The first will provide advice on the layout and design of new housing developments. The Executive has been working on this in association with Homes for Scotland and Communities Scotland, and a wide range of other architectural and planning interests to build on the general aspirations for urban design, as set out in Designing Places. The PAN will show how attention paid to the design of housing - whether a single house or a new neighbourhood - can create areas that are welcoming, distinctive, safe and pleasant, easy to get to and move around in, adaptable and resource-efficient.

Although some architects and developers already submit design statements as a matter of course, they are not in the majority. When design statements are submitted they vary in consistency and quality. The PAN on Design Statements will explain what design statements are, the circumstances in which they should be submitted with planning applications, how to prepare one, and how it should be structured. The aim is to ensure that both applicants and planning authorities are clear about the role of design statements, and that they become a key part of the planning process.

Design education and training

Developing the education and training for local authority officials, councillors and students has been approached in a number of ways:

• Councillors and local authority officials - At the beginning of the year preliminary discussions were held with the (SSDP) on training for local authority councillors and officials. In order to gain a clearer understanding of how authorities deal with design matters, and the extent to which urban design skills currently exist in local authorities, an urban design questionnaire was sent to all local authorities in April 2002. The responses have now been analysed.
• Designing Places Award - It was agreed with the Planning Schools to introduce an urban design award for students, in association with The Lighthouse, at the Scottish Planning Quality Awards next year (see page 23).
• Planning Schools - The Executive has been looking at urban design training in the Planning Schools.

For further information on Designing Places contact: Sue Whitty on 0131 244 7551, email:susan.whitty@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

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