Design Guidance

Design guidance, often produced in the UK in the form of Supplementary Planning Guidance, aims to improve local standards of design and to assist applicants by clearly setting out the basic design principles a Local Planning Authority expects to see. This is applicable to a range of types of development, such as residential developments, house extensions, shop fronts, disabled access, advertisements and conservation areas, and is often published in the form of thematic design guides. Recent government focus on good design has given rise to substantial advice on 'how to do it' in the form of guides, manuals and handbooks. Local authorities have taken this up by producing a range of design guides, strategies and briefs, and other community groups are also able to benefit from the new guidelines.

What is a Design Guide?

A document providing guidance on how development can be carried out in accordance with the design policies of a local authority or other organisation often with a view to retaining local distinctiveness (from By Design, DETR, 2000).

RUDI's Design Guidance is divided into three sections:

• Town, City and Regional design guidance (mainly Local Authority design guides)
• Village Design Statements
• Overseas design guidance

see full listing below ...

For an up-to-date list of general placemaking+sustainability best practice intitiatives, handbooks and campaigns, visit RUDI's best practice guides and initiatives