Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick officially launched the Building Beautiful Places plan on 20th July, which aims to encourage environmentally sustainable and life-enhancing communities.
An updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) places beauty at the heart of the planning system and the publication of the National Model Design Code (NMDC) intends to put communities in the driving seat of development plans and create binding standards.
While we support the broad intentions of the new code and framework, there are concerns that opportunities have been missed and that the recommendations have failed to take into account lifestyle changes that have occurred as a result of the pandemic.
Matthew Pratt, Group CEO, said: “Whenever politicians talk about building beautiful places there are always a handful of example model communities which are highlighted on rotation, including Bournville. The irony is that building Bournville is impossible within the constraints of the new national model design code, a community which features attractive green streets with cars parked conveniently close to the front of the home behind a hedge. It is frustrating that despite thousands of consultation responses being submitted, the code remains largely unchanged from that unveiled months ago, when the industry was invited to share its views to inform a code that would work for the whole of England.
“A global pandemic has taken place during the period of time it has taken to launch the new design code, but the recommendations within it have not been adapted in any way to take into account people’s changed preferences for larger homes that offer space for home working and socialising and which are surrounded by green open spaces. When asked to choose a new build home that they would aspire to live in most, the overwhelming majority of consumers we asked (77%) said they aspire to live in a two-storey detached home. Only 3% and 4% of respondents stated they would choose to live in a terraced home or townhouse respectively.
“A positive outcome of the NMDC launch is the push for developers to consult with local communities on their needs and requirements at an early point, something we are very used to doing and which is essential to delivering communities where people want to live. At Plasdwr, a new Garden City in Cardiff comprising up to 7,000 homes within five walkable neighbourhoods, we adopted an open approach to engagement from the start of the planning process including regular drop-in meetings for the local communities, regular newsletters and our teams have established a continually managed ‘get in touch’ direct email account and appointed a Plasdwr specific Community Liaison Officer. Engagement has been key to establishing long-term relationships and creating a place people want to live in.”
