Daily Telegraph - Developers Design Briefs

Shock Horror – Developers writing design briefs.

One small piece of information – developers have been doing this for the best part of 20 years.

What is a design brief?

It is a set of principles to be followed for a development to be acceptable.

Basic criteria for all developments are going to be set out in the Local Plan or Local Development Framework as they are called now.

This is also likely to set out very basic principles for individual sites on matters such as:

• Density
• Affordable housing
• Access points
• Open space

Next you come to more detailed matters relating to design such as;

• Road layout
• Height and relationship of buildings
• Mix of house types
• Construction materials
• Parking
• Cycleways
• Public transport
• Play areas
• Landscaping

These are items that can be dealt with in a design brief or via the initial negotiations on a full planning application.

These days even small applications are expected to come with a ‘development statement’ that will need to address as many of the above issues and more that may be considered to be relevant.

Now consider as a taxpayer would you prefer that the developer pays for this work that can then be accepted, rejected or amended by the Planners or would you prefer to foot the bill by employing more staff in your local planning department.

The brief prepared by the developer can and often is subject to amendment, so where is the problem.

As promised last time; in the next post I will consider the next indication of ‘potential catastrophe’ where private-sector Inspectors check new homes.


Stay tuned to Property Fortunes...