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Urban design is the art of making places for people. It's concerned with the arrangement, appearance and function of towns and cities. It involves the design of buildings, groups of buildings, spaces and landscapes, and the establishment of frameworks and processes that facilitate successful development. Urban design operates from the city-wide scale right down to the design of street furniture and lighting.

Our urban design service:

  • shapes planning policy
  • creates masterplans, design frameworks and guidance for areas and sites
  • delivers public realm improvements and landscape projects
  • provides design advice through the planning application process
  • helps to drive up the design quality of schemes

Plymouth's key urban design guidance documents include:

Intensifying the city centre as a regional mixed-use destination is a fundamental objective.

Enhancing the waterfront as an attractive mixed-use destination, whilst safeguarding its key industries is a central objective.


In addition to the design assessment services provided by our Urban Design team, key proposals are also recommended for independent design review where appropriate. See the links below for more information about the design review panels that cover the Plymouth area: