Vision
Inclusive places for people and efficient and effective public realm design to support community activities and to foster community cohesion, health and wellbeing. Biodiversity and climate-led design that works for people and for other species. Clear and legible layout that allows mental mapping. Walkable, people friendly places. Car dominated environments will not be approved. Closed, clear perimeter block and well-defined building line with incidental setbacks. Boundary specifications available to download (top right of this page). Medium to high density, compact development, small private gardens (25-50m2), efficient use of communal greenery, parking provision as per Local Plan (up to 2 spaces per dwelling). New buildings shall be designed to blend in with their context, or to contrast with it depending on their location, relevance, and impact on the setting. In all instances, designers shall learn from the key character determinants of the area to inform designs that are ‘of their time’.
NOTE: “..support development that makes efficient use of land…their potential for further improvement and the scope to promote sustainable travel modes that limit future car use…maintaining an area’s prevailing character and setting or of promoting regeneration and change…optimise the use of land in their area and meet as much of the identified need for housing as possible…seek a significant uplift in the average density of residential development within these areas, unless it can be shown that there are strong reasons why this would be inappropriate…refuse applications which they consider fail to make efficient use of land as long as the resulting scheme would provide acceptable living standards” (NPPF, 11.118 & 129).
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Housing Criteria Appraisal Form - A PDF can be downloaded after completing the form.
Design Criteria - Concept
H.1.1 Site analysis & vision
H.1.1.1 Undertake a site analysis to evaluate environmental, technical and socio-economic site conditions and to identify constraints and opportunities.
H.1.1.2 Demonstrate how constraints and opportunities informed proposals and outline the overall place vision, and how this has emerged from robust engagement with the local community and stakeholders.
H.1.2 Communities, health and wellbeing
H.1.2.1 Demonstrate how the community engagement strategy adheres to the Community Engagement Criteria.
H.1.2.2 Create, expand or enhance public places that encourage social interaction and public activity, and that bring people closer to their communities. Demonstrate proposals by providing a placemaking masterplan/layout.
H.1.2.3 Understand local demographics and how design solutions can increase inclusive access to greenery and encourage healthier, more active lifestyles in the area.
H.1.2.4 Demonstrate how the scheme complies with the criteria in the Wellbeing Design Criteria and how it will deliver Social Value.
H.1.3 Trees and nature
H.1.3.1 Carry out accurate tree surveys prior to developing the design concept and retain and protect existing trees that are A and B classified, using them (as well as new trees) as features for placemaking.
H.1.3.2 Make a commitment through a tree strategy, to plant trees in the public realm and to increase and/or improve the existing canopy in the area. Tools like CATVA or i-Tree Eco (ecosystem value) are strongly recommended to evaluate the role of existing and proposed trees in residential developments.
H.1.3.3 Allow sufficient tree planting space, root protection and irrigation to ensure healthy growth and longevity of all specimens. Street trees require a minimum root space of 2.4m in diameter; avenue trees require a minimum root space of 5m in diameter.
H.1.3.4 Integrate existing and new green and blue infrastructure as part of a holistic approach to placemaking. All green spaces must have a clear purpose and serve humans and other species, also contributing to climate change mitigation.
Design Criteria - Masterplan
H.2.1 Layout composition
H.2.1.1 Follow the composition best practice guide to design the masterplan/layout in context and with dwellings that animate all streets through their positioning, front design and façade treatment and that allow future adaptation.
H.2.1.2 Demonstrate the application of design tools such as building typology, landscape, streetscape, architecture, heights, density and street composition to deliver place hierarchy that complies also with the criteria in the New Street Design Criteria. For example, Locating the largest, tallest, more imposing, higher design quality homes facing main links/streets, public squares, parks/greenery and water frontages.
H.2.1.3 Design to enable people to create a mental map of the place, according to the Legibility best practice guidance.
H.2.2 Perimeter blocks and boundaries
H.2.2.1 Bring buildings and boundaries walls forward to the perimeter of blocks/plots. Specify high quality front gardens and boundary treatments, and offer opportunities for activity and personalisation. A clear definition of private and public land is one of the areas a huge concern to Nottingham City Council because poor design has proven to have a significant impact on long-term maintenance, cleanliness and overall appearance. Boundary treatment must be as per the Best Practice Boundaries page, solid and well defined; wooden fencing facing public/publicly visible areas will not be approved.
H.2.2.2 In corner buildings, side walls and gables facing streets, paths, public spaces or parking areas, respond to both sides of the perimeter block with openings to habitable rooms that offer surveillance. Blank side walls or gables facing public o highly visible areas will not be approved.
H.2.2.3 Keep walls segregating rear gardens from the public realm to a minimum, and design them to add interest to the street scene, especially when front gardens are the only private outdoor space, in which case the max. wall height is 1.5m. Consider the use of greenery and biodiversity friendly bricks and details.
H.2.3 Urban grain and grouping
H.2.3.1 Design in keeping with the existing urban grain and mass unless otherwise specified in site specific regeneration strategies/guidance. For city centre developments, comply with the principles outlined by the Nottingham City Centre Urban Design Guide (2009).
H.2.3.2 Design out alleys and individual rear garden access to avoid gaps between dwellings; semi-detached properties are preferable to detached ones.
H.3.1.2 Design layouts and façades in a way that these make the building legible. Try following the composition guidance to add hierarchical variation.
H.3.1.3 Design buildings and their key features (windows, etc.) applying proportional ratios to form a coherent whole and ensure they respond to the urban context and the character determinants of the area.
H.3.1.4 Design the component parts of buildings and façades in relation to each other and in response to the streetscape they face. Follow specific and clear proportion rules to manage size, scale, and composition, following a tripartite design (differentiating base, middle and top floors), as per the Nottingham trend.
H.3.2 Details and materials
H.3.2.1 Design all details as an integral part of the design (not as an addition), in proportion and in character with the building, and showcasing its time and place (not trying to copy period features).
H.3.2.2 Specify details and materials of high quality; provide detailed drawings (e.g. scale 1:10) and management plans demonstrating how the details will be delivered, installed and maintained.
H.3.2.3 Specify colours and textures that relate to the palette and textures of the site and its surroundings. If contrasting colours are used to enhance the design, these must be in keeping with the site palette. Proposed colours might impact on historic settings, listed buildings and local assets in the vicinity of the site, in which case, applicants must graphically demonstrate a full understanding of that impact.
H.3.2.4 Design fenestration depths that respond to the Nottingham trend of deeper reveals (min 1 brick depth) that project shadows onto the framework and glazing. This is a particularly critical aspect of design quality and the City Council has previously enforced the removal and re-instating of windows with shallow reveals.
H.3.3 Layout and services
H.3.3.1 Design following the Climate-led Design guidance.
H.3.3.2 Design all new homes in compliance with the Dwelling Layouts & NDSS Criteria.
H.3.3.3 Design waste, bicycles, pushchairs and garden equipment storage within the fabric of the building, easily accessible from the most convenient point. Terrace houses must include front waste storage. Detached and semi-detached dwellings must include waste storage within the driveway/garage access, rear garden bin storage will not be approved. Waste management plans must be provided for communal living, residential blocks/towers and mixed-use schemes. The impact of sun exposure on bins/bin areas must be designed out in response to climate change and to avoid unpleasant smells and pollution.
H.3.3.4 Design service installations, drainage pipes/balcony drains, metre cabinets, etc. as an integral part of the fabric of the buildings and boundary treatments, not added as an afterthought.