Wealden Design Guide
Supplementary Planning Document
The Consultation Period has now closed and no further comments can be accepted. The content of the Draft document remains accessible, however, for those wishing to view it
Progress on the current situation regarding the Wealden Design Guide (pdf).
The overall purpose of the Guide is to encourage a higher standard of design for development within the District. Wealden District is predominantly a rural district and is larger than most, encompassing a number of well defined areas whose character is drawn from the local landscape and building materials which derive from that landscape.
These elements contribute significantly to the local distinctiveness and it is the aim of this document to ensure that new development (in particular the larger schemes) does not dilute this distinctiveness. This Guide is not only intended to provide prospective developers (and any organisation and individual with an interest in the built environment) with a clear idea of what it is about Wealden which makes it special but also to suggest ways in which new development can be implemented in a manner which maintains the District’s essential character and, where practicable, enhances it.
View the Document
Each section of the guide can be viewed as pdf by clicking on the link to the relevant section heading. Please note that there may be a 2 to 5 minute delay for the document to open depending on the size.
Section 2 – Character zones and local distinctiveness
Section 3 – Landscape, trees and wildlife
Section 5 – Character appraisal of site’s and their setting
Section 6 – Design and Access Statements
Section 8 – Non-residential development
Section 9 – New non-residential development
Section 10 – Alterations and extensions
Section 11 – The re-use and conversion of rural buildings
Section 13 – Shops, signage and advertising
Section 14 – Telecommunications equipment
View Comments
Comments submitted online can be viewed by clicking here.
Summary Leaflet
A short summary of the nature and content of the guide is available to view. A copy of the Summary leaflet is also available.
Supporting Documents
In addition to the Guide itself there are a number of background documents, informing the production of the Draft Report, which have been produced for consultation purposes
Consultation Statement (pdf) – a summary of the comments arising from a series of workshop events to inform the production of the Draft Design Guide
Sustainability Appraisal (pdf) – Analysis of how the Design Guide will meet certain criteria which are important in terms of sustainability in the District
We welcome your comments on this document and you can do this using the on-line questionnaire.
Please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01892 602621 or email designguide@wealden.gov.uk if you require any further information on the Wealden Design Guide consultation.
Other Formats
You can request a printed copy of the draft Wealden Design Guide by contacting the planning policy team on 01892 602621 or email designguide@wealden.gov.uk. Please note, that in the interests of paper saving and in order to cover production costs, there is a charge of £20 per copy. CD’s are also available free of charge.
Printed copies of the Draft Document, together with the Sustainability Appraisal and Consultation Statement (outlining the consultation we have already carried out before writing the draft guide) are available for public view at a number of public venues (pdf) throughout the District.
Status of the Wealden Design Guide
The Wealden Design Guide will be issued as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to the District Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF) and, as such, the guidance will represent an important material consideration in the determination of planning applications. The Council will expect all planning applications to demonstrate how these guidelines have been taken into account; where appropriate this should be included in the Design and Access Statement submitted with the application.
The Guide also needs to be considered in relation to existing and emerging national planning policy, design codes and advice and standards set down in the Building Regulations and other relevant documents. The Guide does not intend to reiterate the standards set out in these documents and developers and their agents should refer to the relevant regulations and good practice guides as a matter of course.