Agenda item

David Wimble (Cabinet Member for Economic Developments and Special Projects and Colin Finch (Strategic Programme Manager for Infrastructure) and Tom Marchant (Head of Strategic Development & Place) were in attendance for the item.

1. The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Mr Wimble, explained that the existing guide dated from 2005. The refreshed guide would be a digital, interactive resource and be far easier to update when regulations change with minimal cost incurred as opposed to previous paper copies. The guide would also be developed jointly with district and borough partners.

2. Colin Finch, from the Development Investment Team, presented the proposed structure of the new online guide, which would set out shared design principles and expectations for new homes and neighbourhoods. This would look to align with recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. He advised that the guide would:

a)    Provide a single, shared online resource outlining quality standards for new homes and neighbourhoods in Kent and focus on design and planning. The design guide would encompass an interactive public website and would be accessed by KCC officers, planning authorities, designers, architects, landowners, developers and housebuilders, offering clear, consistent and accessible design and placemaking guidance.

b)    The current PDF guide had been difficult to navigate and not very intuitive which had restricted the limits of its use. Although still referenced, its main purpose was to save officers and developers time by avoiding repeated discussions over standards.

c)    To improve the guide, three stakeholder workshops were held with stakeholders investing significant time in shaping the proposed solution. This had resulted in a stakeholder?led proposal for a web?based interactive design guide that could be updated almost instantly.

d)    Aspects captured would provide clear, accessible design guidance under five principles (including “of Kent”, “people first”, health and wellbeing, active Kent and resilient places).

e)    It was explained how officers and developers would both use the guide. Planning officers would have confidence in their decisions and in turn be able to reassure developers that their applications align with expected standards.

f)         For developers the guide would clearly set out Kent’s design expectations and assist them to construct to agreed standards and contribute to better?quality homes and neighbourhoods.

g)    The Officer presented a draft prototype of the website to Members and discussed further the future stakeholder workshops and design amendments likely to occur.

h)    Linked to working examples and case studies and explained at depth the desire to support both planning officers and developers to reduce negotiation time and improve the overall quality of developments.

3. Members asked questions about:

a)    Clarification was sought on the relationship between the design guide and car parking standards guidance. Officers elaborated that the parking standards had been recently updated separately by KCC.

b)    Members asked how officers ensured that the guide responded to different local vernaculars and environmental factors. Officers confirmed the guide would allow local adaptation and would not prescribe to a single uniform palette.

c)      It was raised on how design guidance would address scale and layout on larger developments. Officers noted that the principles could be applied across sites of different scales, with examples of mixed character areas within large developments.

RESOLVED to note The Kent Design guide report