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Design and Access Statements
From 10 August 2006, applicants will need
to submit a Design and Access Statement with an application for
planning or listed building consent. If you do
not submit a Design and Access Statement your application will be
treated as invalid and it will not be processed.
We have published a guide "What is required in a Design and Access
Statement".(180Kb pdf. Opens in new browser window)
A brief guide is given below:
Types of Application That Do Not Require A Statement
- A material change of use of land and buildings (unless it also involves operational development)
- Engineering or mining operations
- Householders developments - but statements are required if the property is located within a Conservation Area, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Site of Special Scientific Interest or a World Heritage site.
- Advertisements
- Tree Preservation Orders
- Storage of Hazardous Substances
What is a Design and Access Statement?
It is a short report accompanying and supporting a planning or
listed building application that explains the design process the
applicant has gone through before submitting the proposal and shows
how everyone, including disabled, older and young people will be
able to use the buildings or spaces. The
statement provides an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate
commitment to achieving good and accessible design.
The statement needs to make reference to the relevant planning
policies in the Harrogate District Local
Plan, the replacement Local Development
Framework and Supplementary Planning
Documents/Guidance. Statements should
provide a clear reason for any departures from policy.
For most straightforward applications, the statement will be
short. More complex applications will require a
detailed report.
A full explanation of "What is required in a Design and Access
Statement" (180Kb pdf. Opens in new browser window) is
given in our leaflet.
In short the statement should cover the
following:
The use, amount, layout, scale, landscaping, appearance and
access design principles and concepts of the development.
- Use what buildings and spaces will be used for.
- Amount how much development is proposed. For residential development, this means the number of proposed units for residential use and for all other development, this means the proposed floor space for each proposed use.
- Layout - the way in which buildings, routes and open spaces (private and public) are provided and arranged on site and how these link and fit with the surrounding area.
- Scale the height, width and length of buildings or spaces in relation to their surroundings.
- Landscaping the treatment of private and public spaces with hard and soft landscaping and maintenance thereafter.
- Appearance details of the visual impression it will make. Its architecture, materials, decoration, lighting, colour and texture.
Listed Building Consent Applications
Information about use, amount and landscaping is not
required.
Information about scale, layout and appearance is the same as
for planning application design and access statements above.
In addition, the statement should include a brief explanation
of how the design takes into account:
- the special architectural or historic importance of the building,
- the particular physical features of the building that justify its designation as a listed building,
- the building's setting.
- How access requirements, as imposed by Disability Discrimination Act where applicable, have been balanced with the historical and architectural significance of the building.
Further Information and Advice
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has
published a guide "Design and Access statements: how to write, read
and use them"(919Kb )
Department for Communities and Local Government Circular 01/2006: Guidance on Changes to the
Development Control System (552Kb): Section 3 provides guidance
on the legislative position and the information required.
The Disability Rights Commission has produced guidance on access statements.
Accessibility By Design (Includes Means of Escape)
A Standards Guide (2.92Mb pdf) - published by LABC and
endorsed by the North and East Yorkshire Building Control
Management Group.