Design and Access Statements
The Process
You must consider (and the Statement must illustrate through text with drawings and images) how the following steps have been addressed:
Assessment
Demonstrate an understanding of the context of the site and its surroundings. Consider the physical, social, economic and Planning Policy Context.
Involvement
Indicate who you have consulted: Local Interest Groups. Local Residents, Advisory Bodies and the Local Planning Authority.
Evaluation
Evaluate and analyse the information, identify constraints and opportunities, resolve issues and conflicts, identify initial options and show the initial concepts and why they were discontinued.
Design
Design the scheme based on all of these stages.
Contents of Design & Access Statements
Guidance is in DCLG Circular 01/2006, and CABE have issued advice in 'Design and Access statements how to write, read and use them'. The following aspects of the design should be considered and discussed.
Design Component
Response to Context
Demonstrate how the proposals respond to the physical, social, economic and planning policy context through illustrations and some text.
Amount
Explain and justify the amount of development proposed for each use, its distribution across the site, its relationship to its surroundings and how accessibility is maximised.
Scale
Explain and justify the scale of buildings proposed (height, width and length), why the selected parameters have been chosen, and how they relate to their surroundings. (include indicative massing diagrams that show the proposal and the surrounding built form).
Layout
Information relating to the location of buildings, routes and open spaces proposed. Explain and justify the principles behind the choice of locations of each use within the site. Explain how you have clearly defined the public and private realm. (The proposed layout will need to be illustrated within the wider context of the application site and its surroundings).
Appearance
The aspects of the place or building which determine the visual impression it makes. Explain, illustrate and justify the principles behind the intended appearance. this should include consideration of architecture, external lighting, materials, decoration, colour, texture and detailing of the development. (An annotated photographic survey of the surrounding context can be useful, picking out elements that define the character of the area and buildings and how it has informed the design of the proposal).
landscaping
Explain and justify the principles behind any future or proposed landscaping schemes (including hard and soft treatements and finishes). Address enhancement and protection, biodiversity, amenity, safety, appearance and sustainability.
Access Component
Equal Access
Explain and justify how all users of the buildings will have equal and convenient access to buildings and spaces and the public transport network.
Policy
Explain the approach to access and how planning policies relating to access have been taken into account. Also indicate the applicant's policy and approach to access. Explain the principles which will inform the access arrangements at all scales from neighbourhood movement patterns where appropriate, to details of individual access points to buildings.
Consultation
Indicate who has been consulted in relation to access. Describe how sources of advice on design and accessibility and technical issues will be and have been followed.
Emergency Access
Access for emergency services should be explained including circulation routes around the site.
Site Circumstances
Illustrate how any specific issues which might affect access to the development have been addressed.
* Does not include internal aspects of individual buildings.
Further advice
Further advice is available on the CABE website www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx and www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp
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