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Development Control - Design & Access Statements

These are required for all applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent (with a few exceptions listed below).

The design statement should explain the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development, including the following:

• What the buildings and spaces will be used for
• How much would be built on the site
• How the buildings and public and private spaces will be arranged on the site, and the relationship between them and the buildings and the spaces around the site
• How big the spaces and buildings will be (height/width/length)
• How open spaces will be landscaped to enhance and protect the character of a place
• What the buildings and spaces will look like

The access statement should ensure that the following matters are included:

• Why the access points and routes have been chosen and the relationship with the road layout and public transport provision
• How everyone can get to and move around the place on equal terms regardless of age, disability, ethnicity or social grouping.

Further help

If you would like further advice on the preparation on these statements then you are recommended to look at the CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) web pages: CABE - design and access statements: How to read, write and use them. From there you can download their full PDF guide.

Applications that require statements and which are submitted without one will not be validated and will be returned to the agent (or applicant). You need to submit the same number of statements as copies of the application forms and drawings.

Exceptions to the need to submit a statement are as follows:

• Engineering or mining operations
• Changes of use of land or buildings
• Householders planning applications but statements are needed for these applications where the dwelling is in a Conservation Area.

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