Town Design Statement

In 2000, the Countryside Agency issued its policy statement for the “appropriate and effective land use planning in rural England “entitled “Planning Tomorrow’s Countryside”. One of its main principles was for Local Planning Authorities to require planning applications to be submitted which were good enough to approve, rather than just bad enough to refuse. This built on the work of its predecessor, the Countryside Commission, “to promote appropriate design in the English Countryside in response to the increasingly obvious and alarming erosion of local distinctiveness and sense of place in the English countryside”. 

To help achieve this well established objective and policy aspiration the Countryside Commission developed the concept of Town Design Statements (TDS). These seek to offer bespoke guidance for the design of new development within settlements with an emphasis on strengthening local character and reinforcing “sense of place”. They are advisory documents produced by the community and are intended to influence the planning system so that new build development is in harmony with its surroundings and reflects values derived by the community. Whilst the TDS is concerned with the appearance of the development rather than social or community development the process of preparing it can engender togetherness in the community and has the potential to increase public awareness of the local planning system.  

Based on this philosophy it would appear there is much to be gained by producing a Town Design Statement. Residents having the opportunity to say how they town should evolve over the coming years, what facilities should be provided, learning how the local planning system works and most importantly, if the TDS be adopted as “supplementary planning guidance” the opportunity to influence new developments in the town.

However the production of a TDS is not an easy task, it needs careful planning and management. Consequently the organisational arrangements need to be robust with strong lines of communication and management responsibility. With these factors in mind a controlling body has been formed, the “Billericay Design Statement Association” (BDSA) charged with the production of a TDS. The constitution of the BDSA provides for a Steering Group which includes representatives of local voluntary organisations, members of the private sector and councillors from the town and district councils. Already this group has had a display in the library from June 21 to June 23 when residents were asked to give their views on different aspects of the town. There is much to be done. Volunteers are needed to assist in the Steering Group in performing townscape character analysis, a rather technical title for gathering information about neighbourhood areas such as their distinctive features and problem areas. After these assessments the results need to be discussed with residents at local exhibitions and workshops and, if necessary, revised and new character assessments prepared.  

Now a draft TDS can be prepared for consultation after which it can be revised, if necessary, and presented for formal approval as supplementary planning guidance. Then the completed document can be made available to all who have an interest.