Guidance on Design and Access Statements
Design and Access Statements show how the process of making a planning application encourages everyone to think about how inclusive, practical and attractive a place will be once it is built.
Changes in relation to design and access statements from 6th April 2010 will streamline the manner in which applicants discuss the issue of context in their submissions and expand the range of development that is exempt from the requirement to provide a design and access statement. Alongside these statutory changes, revised policy and guidance in relation to both information requirements and the validation of planning applications has been published.
Design and Access Statements are required for all planning applications with the following exceptions:
- Applications for the variation or removal of conditions attached to a planning permission (development of land pursuant to section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990)
- Engineering or mining operations
- A material change in the use of land or buildings, unless it also involves operational development
- The development of an existing dwelling house or flat, or development within the curtilage of a dwelling house or flat for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwelling house or flat, where no part of the dwelling house, flat or curtilage is within a 'designated area'
- Extensions to the time limits for implementing existing planning permissions
- The extension of an existing building used for non-domestic purposes where the floor space created by the development does not exceed 100 square metres and where no part of the building or the development is within a 'designated area'
- The erection, construction, improvement or alteration of a gate, fence, wall or other means of enclosure, up to 2m high or the height of the existing means of enclosure, whichever is the higher, where no part of the building or the development is within a 'designated area' or the curtilage of a listed building
- Development on 'operational land' consisting of the erection of a building or structure up to 100 cubic metres in volume and 15m in height and where no part of the development is within a 'designated area'
- The alteration of an existing building where the alteration does not increase the size of the building and where no part of the building or the development is within a 'designated area'
- The erection, alteration or replacement of plant or machinery where, as a result of the development, the height of the plant or machinery would not exceed the greater of 15 metres above ground level, or the height of the original plant or machinery, and where no part of the development is within a 'designed area'
In addition, Design and Access Statements are not required for the following types of application:
- Advertisement applications
- Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)
- Applications for the storage of hazardous substances
- Prior approval for proposed development
- Non-material amendments
Note: 'Designated Area' means a World Heritage Site or a conservation area
Related links
SI 2010/567 - The Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure)(Amendment)(England) Order 2010
SI 2006/1062 - The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Procedure)(Amendment)(England) Order 2006
SI 2010/568 - The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2010
SI 2006/1063 - The Planning (Applications for Planning Permission, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Amendment)(England) Regulations 2006
DCLG Circular 01/2006 - Guidance on Changes to the Development Control System - section 3 of this document has been replaced by Guidance on Information Requirements and Validation (section 6 page 26)
Design and Access Statements - how to write, read and use them - CABE