Design and access statements: more guidance needed to combat 'dramatic variations' between local authorities?

Planners have called for more guidance on the use of design and access statements, according to a report on Planningresource.com. It suggests that practitioners feel that requirements between local authorities vary dramatically.

Consultants have reported significant variations in the approach of different councils, with some requesting detailed information on materials at the outline planning application stage.

'There needs to be additional guidance. It would also help if local authorities said what they are looking for in their local requirements,' RRP Architects associate director of planning Angela Banks told the online resource.

RTPI head of policy and practice Matt Thomson agreed that more detailed guidelines would be helpful, while Planning Officers Society spokesman John Silvester told planningresource that he disputed the claims, and argued that guidance is already available. 'We advocate the use of CABE's guidance on design and access statements and have also issued our own information sheet about them. There is a bare minimum that is required. We don't think that there have been any real problems,' he said.