las adopting design guidance

A masters student in town & country planning asks: I am currently undertaking my dissertation. Are you aware if any studies/surveys have been carried to count how many local planning authorities in England have adopted design guidance? I am attempting to assess if the extent to which LPAs use design-led approaches in their assessments of urban capacity (potential) is influenced more by internal design capacity & skills than by national or regional guidance on the topic.

If you are aware of any work examining the use of design in urban capacity work then that would also be very useful.

Thank you for your time