Our response to the Taylor review on planning practice guidance

In response to Lord Taylor's review of planning practice guidance, we submitted evidence to the Department for Communities and Local Government, calling for the inclusion of specific design guidance. 

Our comments focussed on the need for the Government Planning Practice Guide to reflect the core planning principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which includes securing ‘high quality design’.

 We welcome the Taylor review and acknowledge that it provides an opportunity to set out a clear, consistent framework that will help all participants in the planning system deliver better quality places. However,  along with industry stakeholders such as the RIBA, the Landscape Institute and Urban Design London, we firmly believe the Government’s new Planning Practice Guide should include specific design guidance to clarify the interpretation and delivery of the design quality aspirations in the NPPF. 

This would allow plan makers and decision takers to deliver high quality development through good design.

We urge the Department for Communities and Local Government to support and use a working group made up of relevant professional organisations and industry experts to help draft consolidated design related planning guidance to support the NPPF’s policies.

The Taylor review

The review makes recommendations as to the scope and form of practice guidance that should be provided in future by government to support effective planning; what new or updated practice guidance should be published, with clear priorities; and what guidance should be cancelled.

You can download the full review below: