Design and Access Statement SPD

From 10 August 2006, applicants must submit a Design and Access Statement with their applications for planning and listed building consent.

Southwark is preparing this Supplementary Planning Document to provide a detailed guidance for applicants on what the statement should cover.

This SPD will also replace Southwark's 2002 Design Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Consultation

Informal consultation on the draft SPD runs for 6 weeks from January 25 to March 8 2007. During this period the document is available for viewing but not for comments. A period of 6 weeks of formal consultation will take place from March 9 to April 20 2007. The draft SPD together with the accompanying Sustainability Assessment of the impacts of the SPD is available from the council's website as a report submitted to the Planning Committee.

Download a copy of the draft Design and Access Statements SPD

What is it?

A Design and Access Statement must explain the thinking behind a development and how the applicant has taken into account the physical, social and economic context in the proposed design. The statement must show that the applicant has given due consideration to local, regional and national planning policies.

It must also show how the development will be accessible to all especially by public transport and how everyone will be able to get to and move through the proposed development and especially on equal terms regardless of age, disability, ethnicity or social grouping.

  • Design issues

  • The design process - explain the design principles and concepts
  • Use - what buildings and spaces will be used for
  • Amount of development - how much will be built on site, number of units/floor space, how the development complies with the principles of sustainability and energy conservation.
  • Layout - how the buildings, private/public spaces are to be arranged on site and their relationship.
  • Scale - how big the buildings and spaces will be in terms of their height/ width /length.
  • Appearance - details of materials/architectural details.
  • Landscaping - treatment of private and public spaces hard and soft landscaping.

Accessibility issues

  • Vehicular and transport links - Why the access points and routes have been chosen.
  • Road Layout - how the site responds to road layout and public transport provision and access for emergency services, where relevant.
  • Inclusive access - How everyone can get to and move through the place on equal terms regardless of age, disability, ethnicity or social grouping.

Which developments will require a Design and Access Statement?

A Design and Access Statement must accompany applications for both outline and full applications, and generally will be required for all planning and listed building consent applications, except for:

  • A material change of use of land and buildings;
  • Engineering or mining operations;
  • Householder developments: but statements are required if the property is located within a Conservation Area;
  • Advertisements
  • Tree Preservation Orders;
  • Storage of Hazardous Waste;