DNP2: Supporting Good Design

Development proposals should contribute to the objective of achieving well-designed places reflecting local character and design preferences. To achieve this, proposals must demonstrate how their scheme positively responds to the relevant design strategy and accords with the relevant codes set out in the Dormansland Design Code, as relevant to their location, scale and nature.  

The policy responds to the Government’s encouragement that neighbourhood plans should set out local design guidance by refining the series of Local Plan design policies to provide design codes that covers all of the parish.

The Code is an integral part of the policy but is extensive in distinguishing the different character areas in the parish and is therefore published separately. To be clear therefore, as the Code has been prepared and consulted on as part of the Plan, its content carries the full weight of the development plan in decision making and is not subordinate or supplementary guidance carrying lesser weight.

Applicants will therefore be expected to have acknowledged, understood and positively responded to the relevant design strategy in demonstrating compliance with the relevant codes as set out in the Code and as relevant to the location, nature and scale of their proposals. Where a proposal does not seek to follow the requirements of the Code then the application will be obliged to justify why an exception should be made.