Conservation and Urban Design Planning - building and landscape design services

Planning advice, building control and town centre management

Attractive and lively buildings, streets, parks and neighbourhoods, especially those with a mixture of compatible uses and historic character, all contribute to making the area a special place which is a pleasure to live in. The quality of our surroundings is also now recognised as a vital factor in attracting and retaining businesses, employers and tourists.

Current government policy asks developers 'to think imaginatively in future as to how proposals can incorporate mixed land uses, to produce lively and successful developments and provide a positive contribution to the quality of our towns and cities'.

Stafford Borough has a wealth of historic buildings, so it is important that we should carry out our duty to preserve and enhance our architectural heritage. It is also vital that we strive to improve the quality of design of new development and avoid some of the mistakes of the past.

Design of New Development

Quality design should be the aim of all involved in the development process, but primarily the impetus should start with designers and their clients. Apart from this the appearance of proposed development and its relationship to its surroundings are material considerations in determining planning applications.

Good quality design is more than personal taste.  Well established urban design principles should be incorporated into any proposal.

Quality design is concerned with all the practical aspects of building design; soundness of construction, energy conservation, drainage, access, car parking, daylight and over-shadowing for example, as well as quality of visual appearance and how it relates to its surroundings.  Well designed buildings and spaces can enrich our surroundings and cultural life, thus improving our quality of life.

Urban design is about quality rather than style and taste. New development should meet all the design principles, should not damage the environment, and that it should integrate well with its surroundings.  In Conservation Areas and the older parts of town this will normally point towards a more 'traditional' approach, not necessarily slavishly copying the past but complementing it, with the use of traditional forms and materials. In other locations, such as business parks or free-standing sites, imaginative modern designs which make a 'statement' are positively welcomed. In all locations, however, the intrinsic 'quality' of the design will be the chief benchmark.

Urban Design Principles

'Urban Design' is concerned with the design of groups of buildings and the spaces between them, streets and whole areas. Urban Design transcends arguments about the architectural style of individual buildings and focuses instead on how places 'work'. The way to promote good urban design is through following good urban design principles and by fostering quality in the design of public buildings and spaces.

Design Principles to Consider

Continuity and Enclosure

Where are the active edges?

Where are the inactive edges of the buildings?

Do the fronts of buildings face the fronts of other buildings across the street?

How frequent are entrances between the inside and outside spaces?

Do people who do not live or have business in the area move through it?

Does it feel safe?

Quality of the Public Realm

How would you rate the quality of surfacing materials in the streets and squares?

How would you rate the quality of street furniture and other infrastructure?

Does it reflect local character?

Are there any unnecessary items creating street clutter?

How different are the night and day time experiences of the different parts of the area?

What signs of social abuse are there?

 

Ease of Movement

 

How well does the area connect up with the surrounding public space network?

How are the different modes of access accommodated in movement and in rest?

How is the choice of routes through the area affected by the configuration of the spaces and the buildings surrounding them?

How easy and safe is it for various groups to move into and around the area?

 

Legibility

How easy is it to find your way around within the area and what are the components of the urban landscape which help you to do this?

How easy is it to find the connections between this area and adjoining parts of the town?

Does the area contribute to the legibility of the town as a whole? 

Adaptability

 

How does the design of the area affect the way in which it could contain a wide range of uses?

Does the design of the public space inhibit or encourage a wide range of activities?

Is any of the space unclaimed, underused or abused?

Are there disused or underused buildings?

Could the buildings be adapted to other uses?

 

Diversity

 

How many different uses can be identified?

Is the variety of uses evident from the public space?

Are the different uses compatible?

Do the uses help maintain a twenty four hour presence in the area?

Does the area support a diversity of habitats for flora and fauna?

Character

Could this area be anywhere or does it have the quality of being in a particular country/region/city/town/quarter?  Is this reflected in:

Public Art

The Council encourages public art as an integral part of new development or refurbishments. Public art enriches our surroundings, symbolises community identity and culture, contributing towards the value and distinctiveness of new developments. 

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