Changes for the Requirements of Design and Access Statements

The new Article 8 of the Development Management Procedure Order sets out that only types of applications for planning permission that will require a Design and Access (D&A) statement will be:

1. Major Development 
2. The provision of one or more dwelling houses where any part of the development is in a designated area 
3. The provision of a building or buildings where the floor space created by the development is 100 square metres or more where any part of the development is in a designated area (Note: the phrase 'designated area' is defined as a conservation area or a World Heritage Site).

The new Article 8 also sets out that even if an application for planning permission falls within any of the above three categories, it will NOT require a D&A statement is

• (a) to remove or vary a condition
• (b) to extend the time limit for the implementation of an extant planning permission
• (c) for engineering or mining operations
• (d) for a material change in use of the land or buildings, or
• (e) for development which is waste development

With the above, the most significant difference is that an application for planning permission for works to a house or flat within a designated no longer requires a D&A statement.

An application should be accompanied by a statement (D&A) that:

1. explains the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development
2. demonstrates the steps taken to appraise the context of the development and how the design of the development takes that context into account
3. explains the policy adopted as to access, and how the policies relating to access in relevant local development documents have been taken into account
4. states what, if any, consultation has been undertaken on issues relating to access to the development and what account has been taken of the outcome of any such consultations
5. explains how any specific issues which might affect access to the development have been addressed.

Applications for Listed Building Consent still require a D&A but it should now explain:

1. the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the works
2. the special architectural or historic importance of the building
3. the particular physical features of the building that justify its designation as a listed building
4. the building’s setting
5. the policy adopted as to access, including what alternative means of access have been considered, and how the policies relating to access in relevant development documents have been taken into account
6. how specific issues which might affect access to the building have been addressed.

 

 

Contact Planning

Telephone: 01304 872486

Email: developmentmanagement@dover.gov.uk