Design
Good design is about more than just architecture and the aesthetics of individual buildings. It is about the places in between buildings and how well these spaces are integrated into the existing context and landscape. By investing in quality, we will promote a wide range of long term social, economic and environmental benefits. The overarching design policy document is called Designing Places.
Policy summary
Designing Places: A policy statement on design sets out the overarching policy on design. This document is supported by a series of design based Planning Advice Notes (PANs). The main policy messages are:
- Design as a material consideration - When determining a planning application, a planning authority can refuse a proposal solely on design grounds and defend its decision at appeal,. A masterplan can help in the decision-making process. Once approved, the masterplan can be adopted as supplementary planning guidance to help raise design quality
- Six qualities make a successful place - distinctive, safe and pleasant, easy to get to and move around, welcoming, adaptable and resource efficient.
Latest
Young Talent: Building Scotland's Future
A seminar was hosted by the Scottish Government and the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment at Holyrood Palace on June 3, 2009. The event was designed to inspire Scotland's young talent who will be involved in the future place making agenda. With so many new developments proposed to take place in Scotland, the focus must be on delivery. The aim of the event was, therefore, to motivate young talent to be the future place makers, as well providing an opportunity for them to mix with some established players. The format of the seminar included presentations, a masterclass, provided by Hank Dittmar (Chief Executive of the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment) and a panel discussion. The panel members consisted of:
- Alan Prior, Deputy Head, Heriot Watt University
- Jill Paterson, Chair of Scottish Young Planner, Haliday Fraser Munro
- Susie Stirling, Principal Planner, Scottish Government
The focus off the discussion was on positive ideas and suggestions which will enable universities to address urban design skills and to ensure that students are sufficiently equipped with the right tools and knowledge to be able to masterplan. All guests were also be given a suggestion sheet to write down ideas. These will be followed up in due course.
Some key announcements which were made on the day were:
Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiatve (SSCI): There will be a future role for students on live masterplanning projects, between the Scottish Government, universities developers and local authorities, through the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative.
- New Designing Places 'Study Competition': We will be creating a new 'Designing Places: Study Competition' for students. The first of these annual events will be focused on street design and take place in the autumn. This links to the forthcoming policy document called Designing Streets. See Planning Awards - Designing Places for more information.
Poundbury Study Trip
As a pre-cursor to the Holyrood seminar, a study trip to Poundbury was organised by the Scottish Government. It took place on May 13, 2009. Noel Isherwood from the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment and Simon Connibear of The Duchy of Cornwall Office provided presentations, a tour and a masterplanning masterclass.
Everybody who attended the Poundbury study trip has been invited to the Holyrood Seminar (approx. 40 guests). The other delegates who have been invited to the seminar include a mixture of Scottish representatives from some local authorities, developers, house builders and transport engineers.
Consultation
The joint Planning and Transport consultation Designing Streets closed on March, 23 2009.