Maldon District Design Guide

Maldon District Council is seeking to deliver an innovative and bespoke Design Guide to help developers, applicants and Council officers to improve the quality of design in new development across the District. Recognised principles of good design should be sought to create a high quality built environment for all types of development, irrespective of location within the District. Although visual appearance and the architecture of individual buildings are important factors, good design should improve connections between people and places, and should integrate new development into the natural, built and historic environment.

The Design Guide should be more than just a wealth of information. It needs to be an effective tool for achieving high quality design that can be used by developers and designers to prepare high quality development proposals and also by planning officers when assessing applications. It should be concise and easy to use, and should be tailored to Maldon District’s particular characteristics and needs. This includes designing sites that take into account future growth whilst safeguarding and enhancing the natural and historic environment and mitigating and adapting to the potential impacts of climate change. Significant importance is placed on Place Shaping to encourage an integrated approach to development and the creation of successful places that will complement and enhance the character of the District

The new Design Guide should

• provide an effective tool that can be used by developers and their design teams and Council officers in the design and assessment of development proposals;
• set out clearly and briefly what the purpose of the guide is, how it is structured and how it should be used;
• set out the design process that should be followed in order to achieve high quality design – this should include the need to consider future growth planned for the area, and designing sites that deliver sustainable development;
• distinguish between best practice in rural and urban areas, where required;
• be highly visual to assist the user and inform their understanding;
• be easy to use and simple to navigate; and
• clearly signpost where the user can access more detailed guidance and when this should be taken into account.