DESIGN

2.1 The form of new development and the standard of its design has, and will continue to have, a significant effect on the environmental quality of the District. Good design is considered to be an essential requirement for all new development throughout the district. This is particularly important because the pace, scale and type of changes which have taken place in the past have, in a number of cases, resulted in a quality of design which has had a significant impact on the overall character and appearance of the area.

2.2 Although the degree of change which has taken place is unlikely to continue at the same scale in the foreseeable future, it is considered essential that the quality and design standard of development is as high as can reasonably be achieved.

2.3 The landscape and historical heritage of the District generally is widely recognised as being of the highest quality and importance, and it is essential that this be afforded adequate protection. The settlements and countryside warrant this special consideration and protection in particular because:

(i) there are a significant number of individual buildings which are of a high architectural quality or of a significant historic value; many are 'listed';

(ii) although each is important in its own right, there is a range of architectural styles and periods of building throughout the area;

(iii) in the more 'urban' centres there are groups of buildings and spaces which are of outstanding architectural and townscape quality;

(iv) outside these 'urban' areas, historic settlements and groups of buildings tend to be small in size and dispersed;

(v) some of these settlements have their unique and individually important features and have been designated as Conservation Areas;

(vi) the area is under considerable development pressure;

(vii) large parts of the area are of a high landscape value, some of which have been identified as Special Landscape Areas, or are designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with part being within the Heritage Coast.

2.4 The general strategy of restraint on development in this Plan is complemented by specific policies to conserve particular components of the built and rural environments. The Plan seeks to protect and enhance the character and environment of the Villages and the Countryside generally. All new development should, therefore, be of a standard of design which relates and responds in a positive way to this character.

2.5 The aims and objectives of the Plan, therefore, are:

(i) to ensure that the design of all new development relates and respects the historical form, scale and character of the locality, and creates a logical and coherent extension to the existing pattern of development;

(ii) to ensure that appropriate materials are used in sensitive locations;

(iii) to ensure that street furniture and advertisements are of a sufficiently high standard of design.

DESIGN GENERALLY

2.6 As stated previously, the combination of the overall high quality of the historical built and rural environments, the character of the settlements, its landscape quality, and the possible damaging effect of modern development pressures, make it imperative that any new development is carried out to a high standard of design.

2.7 Consequently, the District Council will not only reject new designs which are obviously poor and out of scale and character with their surroundings, but will also resist alterations and extensions which will have a detrimental impact upon the character, appearance and form of existing buildings. In addition, development should have regard to the needs of people with disabilities in the design of houses and other buildings. The District Council will, therefore, expect all forms of development to conform to the following policy.

POLICY AP19

Design

Proposals which comprise poor design and layout or otherwise seriously detract from the character of their surroundings will not be permitted. In considering the design aspects of planning applications the District Council will have regard to Supplementary Planning Guidance which has been prepared and adopted and will generally resist proposals which do not conform to that Guidance.

2.8 The following criteria will form the basis of Supplementary Planning Guidance, and will be used to assess design aspects of proposals:

(i) proposals should normally relate to the scale and character of the surroundings;

(ii) new development generally should make adequate provision for public transport, cars, cycling, garages, parking areas, access ways, footways, etc, in a manner whereby such provision does not dominate or prejudice the overall quality of design and appearance;

(iii) in areas of little or varied townscape quality, the form, density and design of proposals should create a new composition and point of interest, which will provide a positive improvement in the standard of the built environment of the area generally;

(iv) alterations and extensions to existing buildings should normally respect the plan form, period, style, architectural characteristics and, where appropriate, the type and standard of detailing and finishes of the original building;

(v) in order for extensions to existing buildings to be acceptable, particularly on those which are considered to be architecturally and historically important, those located within a Conservation Area, or those that are `Listed', the extension shall normally be visually 'recessive' and its size and design shall be such that the original building will remain the more dominant feature on the site;

(vi) the use of materials and finishes, including colours, shall relate to, and respect, where appropriate, those of the immediate locality or the area generally;

(vii) layouts should be related to, incorporate and protect any important natural landscape features on, or adjacent to, the site, including existing trees, shrubs and hedgerows. Where an existing hedgerow or group of trees are an important feature of the street scene and landscape, proposals should aim to retain all, or most, of them;

(viii) adequate care and attention must be given to the form, scale, use, and landscape of the spaces between buildings and the boundary treatment of individual sites, particularly on the edge of settlements. Therefore, proposals for all new development should incorporate a hard and soft landscaping scheme, which forms an integral part of the overall design concept;

(ix) the design of houses and other buildings should have regard to the requirements of people with disabilities;

(x) proposals for development will be expected to take into account the need for crime prevention. Particular attention will be paid to such features as secure design, natural surveillance, adequate lighting and visibility. Proposals aimed at reducing crime within existing developed areas will be supported provided that they are not in conflict with the objectives of other Local Plan policies;

(xi) the District Council will support and strongly encourage the conservation of energy and the use of alternative and renewable sources of energy in the design and layout of development proposals for new buildings and conversions of existing buildings;

(xii) The District Council will also support and strongly encourage water conservation measures such as grey water systems, permeable soakaways, and water efficient devices.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

2.9 Planning for people with disabilities is particularly important, not only in public buildings, but also in new housing, thereby recognising that a significant proportion of the community has problems of mobility.

POLICY AP20

Design for People with Disabilities

Where appropriate, the District Council will expect the design of new development to make adequate provision for people with disabilities in terms of access to buildings, movement around them, toilet and parking facilities. This will be particularly important in public buildings, places of recreation or community use, shops, hotels and other forms of accommodation, and places of work. In new housing areas, provision should be made for dwellings capable of accommodating or being adapted to the needs of people with disabilities.

DESIGN IN AREAS OF HIGH LANDSCAPE VALUE

2.10 The design and appearance of new development will be subject to special scrutiny in the sensitive areas, ie, the AONB and Special Landscape Areas, whether within Towns, Villages or the Countryside. The use of appropriate and traditional materials, particularly for roofs, will be essential. In respect of agricultural buildings, the District Council will expect particular care to be taken over the appearance of the buildings to minimise their impact within the landscape, including the use of traditional materials where appropriate.

POLICY AP21

Design in Areas of High Landscape Value

In the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Special Landscape Areas the form of buildings, choice of materials, and colours must be sympathetic to the general character of the area and seek to reduce visual impact. For any new development, including extensions and alterations, which does take place in prominent locations in the AONB, the District Council will expect the use of traditional materials for the entire structure. In respect of agricultural buildings, the District Council will expect particular care to be taken over the appearance of the buildings to minimise their impact within the landscape, including the use of traditional materials where appropriate.

SHOPFRONTS, ADVERTISEMENTS AND STREET FURNITURE

2.11 New shopfronts, fascias, signs and advertisements should make a positive contribution to an area and complement the particular building to which they are fitted, and the street scene generally. The quality and detail of shop design and display can have a significant effect upon an area's attractiveness. This is particularly important in the Towns and larger Villages, within which the shopping centres are often in Conservation Areas. Commercial and business premises could also be listed buildings.

POLICY AP22

Shopfronts

New shopfronts, fascias, awnings, canopies, advertisements and alterations to shop and business premises must be of a high standard of design, utilise appropriate materials, colours and detailing, respect the area within which they are located, and satisfactorily relate architecturally to the building on to which they are fitted. Within Conservation Areas or on Listed Buildings additions which are unsympathetic (and those most likely include standardised fascias, plastic awnings and canopies, projecting box signs and internally-illuminated box fascia signs) will not be granted consent. Where necessary or desirable, the District Council will consider the need to maintain a window display where a change of use is permitted from shopping.

2.12 Advertisements can have a considerable impact on the visual amenity of both rural and urban areas, and the District Council considers that it is essential that great care and attention is given to all advertisement proposals.

2.13 Single advertisements by themselves may not be unduly harmful, but the cumulative impact of a number of brash or similarly inappropriate displays can be very detrimental. Consequently, the District Council considers that it is essential that great care and attention is given to the display and type of advertisement.

POLICY AP23

Advertisements

The District Council will exercise strict control over all advertisements, but most particularly, where:

(a) standardised advertising styles are proposed in a location which requires a more individual approach;

(b) illumination is proposed;

(c) the advertisement, or the location in which it would be displayed, would create a hazard to, or endanger the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians using the highway.

Applications for wall mounted advertisements will be judged against the following criteria:

(i) consent will not be granted for any sign above the level of the existing shop fascia unless such a sign would make a positive contribution to the architectural character of the building or the street scene as a whole;

(ii) all lettering is to be of good quality materials, simple in style and appropriate to the architectural character of the building involved;

(iii) lettering applied direct to the wall or fascia is favoured;

(iv) fascias and signs consisting of non-traditional materials in strong colours, or with a shiny or reflective finish are not favoured and will certainly not be permitted in Conservation Areas or on Listed Buildings;

(v) projecting box signs, house signs of a modern style and internally-illuminated signs will be discouraged and not permitted in Conservation Areas or on listed buildings, where they would detract from the character of the area or the character, integrity and setting of the building concerned. In such cases traditional hanging signs of wood or metal will be encouraged;

(vi) the size of the advertisement in relation to the form and character of the particular building, its location and the street scene; (vii) in Conservation Areas or on Listed Buildings, illuminated signs and advertisements shall only be externally lit in a style and manner sympathetic to the building and area.

Applications for free standing advertisements will not be permitted where they are intrusive or inappropriate due to their location, form, size, colour, design, or illumination, or are potential hazards to people with disabilities.

Where unauthorised advertisements have an adverse impact on the environment or public safety, the District Council will take such action as may be necessary to remove them.

Proposals will be considered in the context of the Council's Supplementary Planning Guidance on the subject.

STREET FURNITURE

2.14 The attractiveness of an area can be enhanced or spoiled by the location, size, design and amount of street furniture. This includes lighting columns, wirescape, seats, litter bins, and surface materials. The needs of people with disabilities should also be considered in respect of the location of street furniture and its design.

POLICY AP24

Street Furniture

The District Council will encourage the suitable design, location, size and colour of street furniture, taking into account the needs of people with disabilities. It will also encourage statutory undertakers and developers to place all wires and cables underground, and rationalise the number of supporting poles. Furthermore, the District Council will encourage Suffolk County Council, as Highway Authority, and the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions to take all reasonable steps to reduce the visual and environmental impact of erecting traffic directional and other signs providing information.

CRIME

2.15 The need to take crime prevention into account when considering the design of new development is now widely accepted. For example:

(i) the division of large new housing areas into district neighbourhoods so as to encourage a "sense of ownership";

(ii) planting should also take into account the need for natural and casual surveillance of buildings and footpaths. Areas should be open to view and care should be taken to avoid unnecessary segregation of cycleways and footpaths so that cyclists and pedestrians do not become isolated;

(iii) particular care over the design and layout of parking areas, etc, so as to reduce the opportunities for criminal activity.

2.16 Early consultation with the Police Architectural Liaison Officer on the design of new development will be encouraged. Criterion (x) of paragraph 2.8 will be the general principle to follow.