The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government had a very busy last weekend in January.
In response to the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission report, MHCLG is progressing
Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to place greater emphasis on beauty and place-making, and to ensure that all new streets are lined with trees.
Lichfields have already produced a interesting blog on the proposed changes to the NPPF
Draft national design code, see our seperate post on this subject, that provides a checklist of design principles to consider for new developments, such as street character, building type, façade, and the requirements that address wellbeing and environmental impact, which councils can use as a foundation for their own local design codes.
Encouraging all councils to publish their unique design code, so residents have a real say in the design of new developments in their area. We already have some ideas on this at Strategic Sites in Guildford with the adoption of the Strategic Sites SPD, a big area missing is the Town Centre. The town Centre Master Plan needs to produce proposals?
Creating an ‘Office for Place’ within the next year, which will support local communities to turn their designs into the standard for all new buildings in their area.
The Govenment are opening a new Community Housing Fund to support community-based organisations to bring forward local housebuilding projects for the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme, backed by £4 million of support for local plan.
The Government is doubling the available funding for areas under the “local heritage listing – monuments men” campaign, with up to £1.5 million now available for communities to nominate local heritage sites including historical buildings or modern architecture, art and memorials for inclusion in their council’s local heritage list.
Late in January MHCLG also published plans to radically improve the energy performance of new homes. This is in response to consultation on the Future Homes Standard. The aim is that all homes to be highly energy efficient, with low carbon heating and be zero carbon ready by 2025.
Lichfields have alreadty produced a interesting Blog on the proposed changes to the NPPF
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