Design and historic environment

Plymouth City Council is committed to the preservation of and creation of high quality environments, and has embraced this philosophy by nominating a design champion and a historic environment champion.

Attractive and lively buildings, streets and spaces with character and a mixture of uses all contribute towards making positive places where people are inspired as individuals, as workers and socially. Good design ensures attractive usable, durable and adaptable places and is a key element in achieving sustainable communities.

Current Government policy (PPS 1) states "Planning authorities should plan positively for the achievement of high quality and inclusive design for all development, including individual buildings, public and private spaces and wider area development schemes. Good design should contribute positively to making places better for people. Design which is inappropriate in its context, or which fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions, should not be accepted."

Planning design is thus focussed on the quality of the environment that we create. It is quality rather than style or taste that makes good design.

Good design needs to respect and encompass the city's rich heritage to ensure that Plymouth's unique and special character is enjoyed by future generations. Therefore the historic environment and the design process need to be considered together when considering development proposals.

The appearance of proposed development and its relationship to its surrounding streets and spaces are now material considerations in determining planning applications. As such the Planning Policy Team provides advice to the Development Management, developers, councillors, regeneration organisations and members of the public on:

• Urban design
• Landscape design
• Historic environment and archaeology

The team also works very closely with the Plymouth Design Panel supporting the panel and preparing critiques on development proposals as well as area frameworks for consideration by the Panel. For more information please view the design panel page.