Urban Design Policies

Policy UD1. - GENERAL URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES

The Council will expect all new developments to be of good quality design and constructed of high quality materials. The Council will reject poor designs, particularly those designs that are inappropriate in their locality, for example, those clearly out of scale or incompatible with their surroundings.

Particular regard will be paid to how the development relates to the street, its relationship with the public realm, the ease with which the public are able to move through and around the development, and the nature and height of any buildings and their effect on the surrounding urban area. The Council will also encourage the innovative use of greenspace and the natural habitat where appropriate.

The Council will produce and adopt relevant design guidance to assist all applicants when applying for planning permission. In addition, the design of the urban form must incorporate appropriate security and safety measures in accordance with Policy UD3 - Security and Safety, and the Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) - Community Safety.

9.1 It is not the Council's intention to impose a particular architectural style through-out the Borough. The fact that a certain design, layout or material is appropriate for one area does not mean that it is appropriate everywhere. However, it is the intention to promote the characteristics of the local area and reinforce the Borough's cultural heritage, local distinctiveness and vitality and viability. Particular concern will be given to the effect of new development on local character, existing buildings and environmentally sensitive areas such as Conservation Areas, Areas of Archaeological Importance, or areas of nature conservation value.

9.2 The need to improve the quality of design is seen as a positive challenge by the Council. It is the Council's intention to provide future SPG for Urban Design on a variety of topics including, New, Existing and Traditional Housing Areas, Public Spaces, Public Art, Industrial Areas, Town Centres and for other large, new developments. This is in addition to any Guidance contained within Conservation Area Enhancement Schemes. The Design Guidance will concentrate on guiding the overall scale, density, massing, height, landscape, layout and access of new development in relation to neighbouring buildings and the local area. Emphasis will also be placed on sustainable design and construction practices. All Design Guidance produced will address the issues of security and safety as part of any urban design rationales. In addition, it is the intention to produce a Borough-wide SPG for Community Safety.

Policy UD2. - DESIGN STATEMENTS

9.3 When applying for planning permission, all applications within the above areas will be expected to contain a short written statement setting out the design principles adopted within the development and illustrative material in plan, elevation and perspective form. It is expected that the Design Statement will show the wider context and setting for the development, not just the development site and its adjacent buildings. They should be simple, clear statements, unless there are major architectural issues: for example, issues associated with a listed building. The proposal must also show its sustainability, particularly with regard to its accessibility by all forms of transport and its construction principles.

9.4 The illustrative material will be particularly important when looking at large-scale or complex development proposals, such as those in environmentally sensitive areas.

9.5 The level of detail expected within the Design Statement will depend on the nature of the proposal. Smaller development may only require photographs of the site, the relevant drawings and its relationship to its adjacent uses, while large developments will require detailed information to be provided. Early consultation with the local planning authority will clarify the level of detail required within the Design Statement.

Policy UD3. SECURITY AND SAFETY

All applications for new development will be assessed in accordance with the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and against the guidance contained in Government Circular 5/94 and other policies within the Development Plan. Applications for new or refurbished schemes for residential or commercial properties will need to be considered against the criteria set out in "Secured By Design", a guidance document produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

The Council will also work in conjunction with the Police, in particular, the Police Architectural Liaison Officer, when considering any proposals for new development.

As set out by Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Council and Police will work together to take into account the reduction of crime when considering all planning matters.

The Council will also work with the Sandwell Community Safety Unit to prepare Supplementary Planning Guidance on Community Safety.

9.6 As required by Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Council and Police, as Responsible Authorities, have a joint legislative responsibility to consider the reduction and prevention of crime and disorder in the discharge of all their duties.

9.7 In order to improve safety and reduce the fear of crime within the Borough, the Council recommends that all new developments take into account the advice contained in these documents. The issues of crime and safety will be addressed in further Design Guidance outlined in UD1 and Supplementary Planning Guidance on Community Safety, to be prepared by the Council in conjunction with the Community Safety Unit.

9.8 Early consultation in the planning stage can help in the design of better developments and lead to a reduction in crime. Designing out crime is of prime importance in any new development to ensure that every aspect of safety had been considered.

9.9 Small changes in the layout of houses, design of buildings, CCTV or inclusion of hard and soft landscaping can aid the reduction of crime related incidents. Consultation with the Police Architectural Liaison Officer, at an early stage, can highlight areas of concern which may be changed before development commences.

9.10 Designing out crime does not have to be restricted to residential or commercial properties. In fact, any application for new build or refurbishment can be referred to the Police Architectural Liaison Officer.

9.11 In order to comply with Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the Council need to consider the prevention and reduction of crime and disorder in the discharge of all their functions, to ensure that the reduction of crime is considered in any new development.

Policy UD4. - URBAN SPACES

*Large developments can be defined as:

• Sites of more than 1ha;
• Proposals with a floorspace of more than 5,000 sq.m.
• Any development that contains spaces accessible to the public.

9.12 Spaces are important features within built development. They provide variety and diversity within the overall townscape and create an active relationship with the built form on a human scale. These spaces and their ability to be responsive to the needs of the user, add to the diversity and choices of an area and improve the quality of experiences in both the public and private realm. Examples include public squares and pedestrianised streets with shops and restaurant entrances providing the interface between the public and private domain, while the quality of the communal areas within Business Parks and Industrial Estates project an image of the development to potential investors.

Policy UD5. LANDMARK BUILDINGS

The Council will identify and protect landmark buildings within the Borough.

In circumstances where these buildings are likely to be lost through redevelopment, the Council will expect a high quality landmark building as a replacement.

9.13 To people who are not familiar with the area, Sandwell's six towns could become confusing and illegible. Landmark buildings are therefore vital as a means of understanding patterns of activity and the physical form. They act as a point of reference and encourage feelings of security.

9.14 Landmark buildings are usually physical buildings or structures. Examples of landmarks in Sandwell include the Temple along Smethwick High Street, Bowater House in West Bromwich, the HOW Building at Junction One (M5), St. Bartholomew's Church in Wednesbury, Wigmore Buildings along Pennyhill Lane, West Bromwich Building Society Headquarters, West Bromwich Town Hall and the Rowley Hills. However, this list is not exhaustive.

Policy UD6. - PUBLIC ART

The Council will encourage an element of public art to be provided as part of any large development, in accordance with Sandwell's Framework for Public Art and the Percent for Art Policy.

The Council will also encourage the use of S106 Agreements and planning conditions as mechanisms for obtaining public art through the planning application process, as well as integrating public art into the public realm through site specific and strategic public art proposals.

A requirement for public art will also be included within Development Briefs and all large proposals promoted by the Council.

Consultation with artists and companies for the inclusion of Public Art within appropriate schemes will be encouraged.

9.15 Sandwell Council's Framework for Public Art aims to increase the amount and quality of public art within the Borough, create an enhanced sense of place, contribute to the environmental improvement of the area and support the participation of local communities in the process of commissioning public art. The Framework is also a mechanism for linking art to sustainable regeneration and the improvement of the urban form.

9.16 Public art operates within the public domain and involves itself in architecture, urban design and other aspects of the built environment, the natural environment, transport and other public places. Public art raises awareness and engenders a sense of pride and identity in the built and natural environment. However, in some cases the provision of public art is often the development itself.

9.17 Public art can take a variety of forms, from two or three dimensional structures to abstract works, moving features, static sculptures, lighting, paving, boundary treatment, murals or pictures and writing. This list is not exhaustive and the Council will expect innovative and original ideas to be incorporated within proposals.

9.18 The Percent for Art policy is a simple mechanism allocating a percentage, usually 1%, of the capital costs of a development or enhancement scheme to the funding of public art.

9.19 It is the Council's intention to prepare Supplementary Planning Guidance for the provision of public art within the Borough.

9.20 Wherever possible, the Council will encourage consultation with appropriate organisations and communities, to encourage an exchange of information, ideas and views between policy makers, arts communities and the wider Sandwell public.

9.21 The Council will encourage the voluntary provision of public art in major commercial developments and public buildings in accordance with the "Percent for Art" scheme.