This section of the Local Plan provides policies relating to the design, quality and overall character of the built environment and seeks to ensure that development:

• is of high quality
• protects and reinforces those characteristics which contribute to the distinctiveness of the area
• meets operational standards and safeguards general amenity
• is provided in a way that is sustainable in terms of its impact on the environment
• makes provision for the needs that it generates and mitigates the impacts that it has.

Good design can help to maintain and reinforce the character and quality of the district and in so doing, make it attractive for residents and visitors. It can help to maintain or build a sense of community, attract business and investment and assist in achieving a safer and more secure environment. It can also contribute to the long-term protection of the environment and natural resources through the sustainable use of materials, the employment of energy-efficient design and building techniques, and by helping to reduce the need to travel by providing a mix of uses in new development.

In PPG3: Housing, the Government places great emphasis on the importance of good design. It advises local planning authorities to:

• "make more efficient use of land by reviewing planning policies and standards;
• place the needs of people before ease of traffic movement in designing the layout of residential development;
• seek to reduce car dependence by facilitating more walking and cycling, by improving linkages to public transport between housing, jobs, local services and local amenity, and by planning for mixed use; and
• promote good design in new housing developments in order to create attractive, high-quality living environments in which people will choose to live".

In order to assist the interpretation of the policies in this section, the Council has adopted supplementary planning guidance. The South Oxfordshire Design Guide (SODG) was adopted in December 2000 and applies to the whole district. At the same time the Council adopted the Chilterns Buildings Design Guide (CBDG) prepared by the Chilterns Conference, which applies to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the southern part of the district. In adopting both Guides, the Council resolved that in the event of any conflict, the SODG would take precedence. The Council has also adopted other supplementary planning guidance in the form of Conservation Area Character Studies as well as advice on shop front design. In addition, over the course of the plan's lifetime, some communities are likely to produce Village Design Statements (VDSs). The Council supports these as an important expression of the community's views on the future development of their local area. The village of Goring-on-Thames has already produced a VDS. In determining planning applications, the Council will have regard to supplementary design guidance and to any VDS relevant to the proposal.

The Council will expect all planning applications, other than small-scale developments such as minor extensions or alterations to buildings, to be accompanied by a Design Statement. This will set out how the proposals take account of the advice in this section and in the supplementary design guidance. In respect of householder applications, applicants should refer to Section 4.6 of the SODG.

There are a number of key principles which together provide the framework for achieving good design in new development. New development should also contribute to the distinctive character and sense of place of each part of the district. Some large-scale developments (such as the new housing area at Didcot) will have to be designed to possess their own individual identity, character and sense of place, based on the principles set out in this section and in the SODG. The Council will seek to ensure that the design of development makes a positive contribution to its surroundings and will refuse poorly designed proposals.

Larger-scale developments should be designed with a clear network of linked and accessible public spaces and places which provide a focus for activity, assist in creating legible layouts and contribute to the character of the development. New large-scale developments should include an identifiable "heart" or primary public space. Its location should be marked by principal buildings, a concentration of facilities and by increased building heights to give a greater sense of enclosure. Larger-scale schemes should also incorporate secondary public spaces which include special features, such as public art and landmarks, to indicate their importance and function. Other incidental open space should also be incorporated in smaller schemes, and may be included in streets and courtyards and as a focal point in a development. All open space should be integral to the development and located and designed with a clear function or purpose in mind. The Council will resist proposals that include poor quality or inaccessible areas of public space, that lack a function or that appear as space simply left-over from the development.

Modern housing layouts rarely match the established patterns of traditional settlements and often only serve to emphasise the difference between the old and the new. New development should respond to the local pattern of streets and spaces, follow the natural topography and take account of traditional settlement form. The arrangement of plots and buildings on a site should reflect the established layout and grain of adjacent areas, and provide links to adjoining development in the form of vehicle, cycle and pedestrian through-routes. The Council will resist developments based on the branched form of street pattern and suburban housing types that has been common in new housing over the past 25 years. Culs-de-sac, linked to a tree-like road system will, therefore, no longer be generally acceptable as an approach to the development of a site.

In order to be successful, new development should be easy to get to and from and should be designed so as to allow a choice of routes through it. To create a development which is 'permeable' in this way, will largely depend upon designing the maximum number of links to surrounding areas; maximising the number of routes through an area; ensuring that the routes provided are capable of being used by a range of transport modes; and limiting the size of development blocks, particularly near the primary public spaces. Blocks should be designed so as to allow adequate access for emergency and service vehicles, such as refuse lorries.

The protection or creation of landmarks, vistas and views can help people to understand a place and to find their way around. This legibility comes from the clarity of the layout of a place and the ability to appreciate what activities are being carried out in certain places - where key facilities are located, for example. Legibility will largely depend upon varying street widths, ensuring that landmarks are widely visible and providing key buildings. Other important elements include ensuring that there are strong sightlines towards and into public spaces, that important views are protected or created and by ensuring that buildings are designed to express their function and significance. On larger developments, it will also be important to establish a hierarchy of public spaces.

It is important that a well-defined open space and landscape structure is created as a framework for new development. The scale of the framework will need to relate to the scale of the development but, in the case of large-scale developments, many functions can be carried on within it. These include recreation (both formal and informal), tree planting for amenity, shelter and screening, woodland for amenity and carbon fixing, natural areas to enhance biodiversity, surface water run-off disposal and movement corridors. The landscape/greenspace structure is as important as the design of the buildings themselves in defining the character and quality of places and should not be treated as an afterthought. The SODG gives detailed advice on the level of structural greenspace to be provided in new developments.

New development in the district will be required to take into account its context in relation to both the wider and local landscape character and setting. The character of the built environment in South Oxfordshire has traditionally been closely related to the character of the landscape. In more recent years, however, this relationship has been weakened and, in some cases the link between settlements and their local landscape character has been lost. In formulating proposals for development, account should be taken of the district-wide Landscape Assessment.¹ The SODG highlights the broad landscape influences upon the built environment of South Oxfordshire and provides more detailed analysis of settlement form and character in relation to local landscape context. Proposals for new development should have regard to this advice.

New development will need to take into account the structure and character of the settlement. The SODG identifies distinctive settlement types in the district and contains advice on the factors which help define their character. The guide defines four basic settlement types: linear rural settlements with a loose structure; nucleated rural settlements with a tighter, regular structure around a central open space; urban settlements with a dense structure; and settlements with a unique or strong character. Settlement character is often difficult to define but is likely to be a reflection of a number of different elements. These might include the density or 'grain' of the settlement (including the arrangement of open spaces), the road structure and street pattern, the relationship of buildings to each other, the building line, and the treatment of boundaries between public and private areas. The settlement type and key characteristics relevant to it should be taken into account in the design of new development.

In terms of the detailed design of the site and buildings, attention should be given to retaining and reinforcing the topography of the site and any particularly interesting features it contains, such as hedgerows or trees and any local landmarks. The scale of development should be in keeping with adjoining development and with the size of the plot. Building forms should be kept as simple as possible and should reflect the general relationship of buildings to the street in the local area - for example, reflecting the gable end or main elevation facing the street. Inspiration should be taken from locally distinctive styles and local building traditions. With regard to entrances to sites and vehicle access, care should be taken to ensure that the character of the area is respected and that existing site boundaries are not disrupted unnecessarily. In the detailed design of the building and the use of materials, reference should be made to local architectural themes or traditions, to paragraph 4.28 of this section and to the detailed advice contained in the SODG. The Council will encourage high-quality innovative design where it is appropriate for the site and its setting.

The design of hard and soft landscape and external areas around buildings is very important in defining the character and quality of places and should be treated as an integral part of the design process. The Council will resist proposals which fail to take into account existing site features such as trees, hedgerows, topographic features and waterbodies, or which fail to include appropriate hard and soft landscape details which will help to integrate the development into its surroundings. Further information regarding landscape and habitat design is available in the SODG and from Council officers. In addition, careful thought should be given to the way in which different types of space are demarcated and the materials that are used to achieve this. Surface treatment will vary, for example, between different types or classes of roads and between roads, footpaths and cycle tracks. Careful consideration also needs to be given to the way in which private and public space is defined and maintained and to the boundary treatments and frontages of sites.

With the increase in private car ownership and the requirement to provide adequate car parking, it has become increasingly difficult to secure developments which are not dominated by parking spaces or garaging. The SODG provides detailed guidance on how to incorporate the car into new development. Where possible, parking should be accommodated on the development plot and located to the rear, side or, alternatively, underneath buildings rather than to the front. Communal parking areas should be well overlooked by adjoining development and well related to the properties they serve. In housing developments, garages should be of sufficient size to accommodate some storage space to avoid cars being displaced into external areas. The Council's Standards for car parking, disabled parking and cycle parking are set out in Appendix 5. Proposals which fail to provide discreet, adequate, safe and secure areas in which to park vehicles will be resisted.

The relationship of a building with its plot is critical to how well it fits in with neighbouring development and to its impact on the overall character of the street. The extent of plot coverage also determines the external area available for private garden space. This policy and the SODG seek to ensure that reasonable standards of private amenity space are provided in new developments. The SODG contains guidelines in respect of the maximum area of a plot that should be developed for different types of dwellings, and the recommended minimum size of garden that should be provided, with the size relating to the number of bedrooms in the proposed dwelling. Used on their own, these standards would lead to uniform plot sizes and shapes which pay little regard to the character of the area. This policy, however, requires the character of the site and the surrounding development to be taken into account in determining the appropriate garden area, as well as the type of dwelling that is being provided. It also requires that garden and outdoor sitting areas are designed so as to provide a reasonable degree of privacy.

Government advice in PPG3 states that local planning authorities should avoid inflexible planning standards whilst also creating places and spaces with the needs of people in mind (paragraph 56). In addition, the Government encourages more sustainable lifestyles. The Council therefore considers it important that new developments are provided with an amenity space that is of an adequate size to serve the needs of occupants and that sufficient outdoor space is available to allow those who so wish, to lead more sustainable lifestyles. In drawing up the recommended standards set out in the SODG the Council has had regard not only to the size of the proposed dwelling but also to the types of activities and uses that occur in gardens and the space requirements that these uses give rise to. The following list is not intended to be exhaustive but gives an indication of the uses and activities that should be taken into account when designing garden areas. The uses include: a private sitting-out area; a space where cycles and outdoor implements can be stored; space to store bins for recycling and rubbish; a play or activity area for children away from traffic and where parents can ensure their safety; an area to dry washing; space for a water butt, grey water recycling (underground) and a compost heap; space to plant vegetables; space for pets.

The issue of the loss of garden area when extending a dwelling is dealt with under Policy H13. Schemes involving the conversion of existing buildings to residential in town centres, conservation areas or affecting listed buildings may be exempted from the recommended standards if all other relevant policy criteria are met.

New dwellings should be designed to ensure adequate privacy for existing and new residents to enable them to enjoy their homes without undue intrusion from neighbours or from the public. Buildings should also be orientated within their plots to maximise daylight, passive solar gain and sunlight to garden areas and to avoid overshadowing of adjoining dwellings. These objectives can be achieved by careful siting of properties, by ensuring that there are adequate distances between properties and through the erection of screen walls and fencing. The SODG contains detailed guidance. It is recognised that in high-density housing schemes, overlooking distances may not be so readily achievable. Innovative design approaches will therefore be sought to provide acceptable standards of privacy on the private side of dwellings.

In accordance with Government guidance in PPS1 and PPG3, the Council will seek to retain and encourage mixed-use development in appropriate locations for social, economic and environmental reasons. Although it will not always be possible to achieve minimum operational standards in mixed-use developments, a satisfactory living and working environment must be achieved. Innovative design solutions to create successful developments will therefore be sought. Section 7 contains detailed advice regarding mixed use in town centres and reference to this section should therefore be made in respect of such proposals.

It is important that new developments are designed and laid out in such a way as to reduce crime against persons and property. The incorporation of the principles and guidelines set out in the SODG will help to create high-quality developments which will be less susceptible to crime. New developments can be designed so as to provide for informal surveillance of streets and open spaces without resulting in loss of privacy in adjacent buildings. The careful siting of street lighting with illumination at an appropriate intensity will help to improve surveillance of public areas after dark. Security of developments will be assisted by providing a clear distinction between public and private space and by ensuring that spaces have a well-defined function. Developers are also encouraged to produce developments which achieve the Police Secured by Design Award.

With regard to improving shop front security, the Council has produced guidance on effective measures which do not spoil the appearance of buildings or harm the character of the area. Developers and shop owners are referred to the advice contained in the guidance.

People with disabilities, for example those with sensory impairments or physical disabilities, often experience unnecessary difficulties in their contact with the built environment. In the design of new development it is important to make provision for their access requirements. This policy also recognises that a more accessible environment would be of benefit to the elderly, those with infants in pushchairs, or young children. Access issues include access to and into buildings from streets and parking areas, the design and layout of roads and pedestrian-priority areas.

Developers are referred to the SODG and to the Local Authority Building Control publication Designing for People with Disabilities which provide further guidance.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climatic Change in Kyoto in 1997 set legally binding greenhouse gas emission targets for developed countries. For the UK the target is 12.5% below 1990 levels by the period 2008 to 2012. The Government also has a manifesto aim to reduce UK emissions of carbon dioxide to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010. The Government sees the planning system as having an important role in helping deliver its targets and goals for climate change. The four main areas of influence are through encouraging energy, water and materials efficient design, and encouraging the use of renewable energy.

Ensuring that a development proposal is energy, water and materials efficient is an integral part of the overall design and measures should be considered as part of all development proposals in the district. Section 8 of the plan deals with reducing the need to travel and reducing the need to use the private car by encouraging alternative modes of transport. In addition, the energy efficiency of a development will be affected by building form, design and layout. Applicants should refer to the SODG for more detailed advice on aspects of energy, water and materials efficiency and sources of further information. The Council has published targets for energy conservation in the Major Development Areas at Didcot (see Section 10 of the plan). In accordance with the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995, the Council has also produced an Energy Strategy which sets out how it aims to improve the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in the district.

In summary, the District Council will seek to ensure that new development:

• minimises heat loss and maximises the benefits of solar gain from buildings through attention to site layout, dwelling type, orientation, window design, insulation, ventilation and landscape details
• minimises embodied energy in buildings through the re-use of existing buildings, designing buildings for long-life with ease of maintenance and adaptability to changing needs and constructing buildings out of local, low-energy and/or recycled materials
• minimises water consumption by encouraging storing and collecting rainwater on site and recycling water which has already been used for certain functions. Reed beds can also be planted to clean surface water before it is discharged to watercourses or balancing ponds in a process of recycling. Section 3 of the plan provides further detail on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
• makes efficient use of construction materials, including the maximum use of reclaimed construction materials and use of recycled construction and demolition waste
• maximises the recovery of reusable construction materials and the recycling of construction waste in proposals involving demolition and redevelopment.

Developers are requested to provide information on energy, water and materials efficient design as summarised above, as part of a design statement. In most cases energy-efficient design can be achieved as part of a development without significant change to its appearance. It is important, however, that energy-efficient measures do not detract from the achievement of good quality design which is in keeping with its surroundings. Particular care will be needed when designing proposals that are within conservation areas or which affect a listed building.

Renewable sources of energy have an important role to play in reducing the consumption of finite resources and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. PPS22 Renewable Energy, identifies a range of renewable energy technologies including onshore wind generation, hydro, photovoltaics, passive solar, biomass and energy crops, energy from waste (excluding mass incineration of domestic waste), and landfill and sewage gas. The Government seeks to encourage renewable technologies through the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) and has set a target to produce 10% of the UK's electricity supply from renewables by 2010. The Dti report New and Renewable Energy: Prospects for the 21st Century gives guidance on possible ways in which this can be achieved.

The Council will also have regard to the Oxfordshire Structure Plan Policies in assessing proposals for renewable energy sources. The District Council will encourage the development of renewable technologies in the district provided that they do not have a significant adverse impact on the local and wider environment. Where the impacts of the development are likely to be significant, an Environmental Assessment will be required under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment)(England and Wales) Regulations 1999.

Development of a Renewable Energy Assessment and Targets for the South East published by GOSE in 2001, provides guidance on the resources and technologies believed to be best suited to the Thames Valley sub-region.

In South Oxfordshire there is potential for the development of electricity-generating plants through the use of wood fuel derived from existing forestry and woodland areas, from coppiced wood grown specifically for the purposes of energy, and from other agricultural residues, such as straw. Electricity generation through such sources will be encouraged provided that the facility is located close to the source of energy and does not have an adverse effect on the local environment. Incineration with energy recovery and landfill gas can be used at waste disposal sites to generate electricity, and more advanced and efficient systems of combustion such as gasification and pyrolysis will be encouraged. These types of facilities are regulated to high standards to control emissions; however, the Council will closely scrutinise the environmental implications of such proposals. The County Council will determine proposals for waste disposal and combustion in accordance with the policies in the Minerals and Waste Local Plan and the Structure Plan.

There is some scope for wind turbines in the district but this is constrained by the climatic conditions as well as the high-quality landscape. Single or small clusters of turbines could have a role in serving farms or rural communities. The potential for generating energy through waterpower in the district is limited, although weirs on the River Thames hold some potential. Any such proposal would be considered in terms of its effect on visual amenity and the local environment.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) stations convert fuels into useful energy more efficiently than conventional large-scale power stations and individual domestic boilers. The opportunity to install CHP and community heating infrastructure could arise where large-scale development is proposed, for example at Didcot, or through small or micro-scale CHP systems or grids.

Active solar systems that collect solar radiation and transfer it in the form of heat or electricity are encouraged, subject to the criteria set out in the above policy. They include solar panels which collect heat by the passage of water, and photovoltaic cells which convert light into electricity. A leaflet entitled All About Solar Energy for Your Home provides advice on active solar systems and is available from the Council. Planning permission for the installation of solar systems may be required and the advice of the Council should be sought at an early stage.

The management of waste in new developments is an important element of the design. A design which provides adequate waste management facilities can make it more convenient for occupants to compost or recycle waste. The Council has produced a guidance note for developers about this issue entitled Waste Management (refuse, recycling and street cleansing). Guidance is also contained in the SODG. Developers will be asked to comply with this advice when submitting proposals to the Council for consideration.

On developments in excess of 10 dwellings or commercial developments of 1,000 square metres or more, the Council will seek the provision of recycling banks. On large-scale schemes these may be accommodated underground. The provision of banks and the way in which waste is managed on a development may have implications for the layout of the scheme. The provision of communal waste management facilities in schemes where flats and high density development are proposed also needs careful thought. Applicants are therefore asked to seek advice from the Council at an early stage in the development process.

Whilst development brings benefits to the district, it also has an impact on existing infrastructure and facilities and on the environment generally. Before an associated planning permission will be issued, any planning and/or legal obligations that have been sought and agreed must be completed. Tight restrictions on public sector expenditure make it less likely that the Council and other service providers will be able to meet the costs of necessary improvements as a result of development. The District Council will therefore seek to ensure that new development meets the cost of the demands that it places on public services, facilities and the environment. Environmental impacts cover the impact of the development on factors such as landscape, biodiversity, resource use and climate change. The cumulative impact of several small and medium-scale developments in a particular area can place as much pressure on existing infrastructure and services as a single major development. It is important, therefore, that all developments make fair and reasonable provision to offset the additional demands they create, in accordance with Government guidance in Circular 05/2005 Planning Obligations. The County Council, in liaison with local authorities in Oxfordshire, has produced an information guide for developers and landowners Infrastructure and Services Needs for New Development and this should be consulted before planning applications are submitted.

Policy D10 contains an indicative list of the types of impact that will need to be mitigated by developers. The developer will be expected to provide facilities, services and infrastructure, or make arrangements to ensure that other agencies make that provision by the payment of appropriate financial contributions. The contribution sought will be fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development proposed. The developer’s obligations will normally be secured through a legal agreement made under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

In the case of the major development on the western edge of Didcot, the Council will seek to ensure that the master developer or promoter assumes responsibility for the management of the delivery of that development, including delivery of all infrastructure, services and facilities made necessary by it. Further information on this obligation is given in Section 10.

The Council seeks to promote and support the arts in the district and has produced an Arts Development Strategy which confirms its commitment to a wide range of arts activities, including public art. There is a growing recognition that public art can play a very positive role in new developments. It can help to create a unique identity for a place and can make using the environment a generally more pleasant experience. Public art can also contribute to the character of an area, particularly if the art draws inspiration from local themes or associations.

In considering major development proposals, the Council will seek a proportion of the capital budget of the project to commission works of art or craft to benefit the community and the environment. The Council supports the Arts Council's recommendation that 1% of the contract sum be set aside for this purpose. Further advice can be obtained from the Council or from Southern Arts. The Council will consult and take into account the views of the local community in the process of considering proposals for public art on particular sites.