Seaton Regeneration Area Plan :: Design and Access Principles

Assessments

Planning Policies (relating to Design and Access)

Refer also to the Planning Statement prepared by Signet Planning accompanying this document.

Government guidance

2.23 Government guidance in the form of Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG’s) and the emerging Planning Policy Statements (PPS’s) set the context within which those involved in the development process should promote excellence in sustainable development and achieving a high quality of design.

2.24 Planning Policy Statement (PPS ): Delivering Sustainable Communities sets out the Governments commitment to good design; “High quality and inclusive design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process. High quality and inclusive design should create well-mixed and integrated developments which avoid segregation and have well-planned public spaces that bring people together and provided opportunities for physical activity and recreation” (para. 35, ODPM, 2005).

2.25 Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3): Housing seeks to promote more sustainable residential environments through requiring developers to make efficient use of land. This also includes a greater emphasis on design in order to create places for people. (Please note: the emerging PPS3 is currently undergoing review following a period of consultation and will eventually replace PPG3.)

2.26 Planning Policy Statement 6 (PPS6): Planning for Town Centres continues sustainability themes highlighted in PPS and PPG3 and advises the following:

• Housing as part of town centre mixed use;
  
• Development orientated to front the street to maximise active street frontages; avoiding blank frontages and;
  
• Provision of good pedestrian linkages and access to centres.
  

2.27 The aforementioned policy is supplemented by guidance documents including the following;

PPS makes particular reference to;

• By Design – Urban Design in the Planning System: Towards Better Practice (DETR/CABE, 2000);
  
• By Design – Better Places to Live: A Companion Guide to PPG3 (DETR/CABE, 200 );
  
• Safer Places – The Planning System and Crime Prevention (ODPM, 2004); and
  
• Planning and Access for Disabled People: A Good Practice Guide (ODPM, 2003)
  
• Other supporting guidance includes; . Places, Streets and Movement: A Companion Guide to Design Bulletin 32 – Residential Roads and Footpaths (DETR, 998);
  
• Urban Design Compendium (English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation, 2000);
  
• Design and Access Statements: How to write, read and use them. (CABE, 2006); and Manual for Streets (draft) (DoT/DCLG2, 2006) (soon to be replace Places Streets and Movement and Design Bulletin 32).
  

Local policy and guidance

Reference has also been made to the following local planning policy and guidance relating to the site;

• Devon Structure Plan 2001-2016 (Devon County Council, 2004)
  
• East Devon Local Plan – Revised Deposit Draft Plan (East Devon District Council, September 2003). At the time of writing, the adopted East Devon Local Plan was unavailable for a six week legal challenge period.
  • “The careful design of new buildings, and the spaces between buildings, respecting the historic and architectural character of the area and features of particular interest can enhance towns and villages and maintain local distinctiveness.”
    (East Devon Local Plan – Revised Deposit Draft Plan. Paragraph 3. )
    
• Development Brief – Seaton Regeneration Area (East Devon District Council, 2005). Paragraph 5.0 sets out the following: Redevelopment Principles that the proposed scheme will seek to address;
  
  • “Opening up the site from east to west.
    
  • Leisure activity hubs, building on existing provision:
    
  • Improved retail provision:
    
  • Increased parking provision:
    
  • Mixed commercial uses, incorporating the existing uses on the site:
    
  • Improved riverside access:
    
  • Diverse range of housing development, including affordable housing:
    
  • Environmental Improvements.”