Context

Applicants must demonstrate, through the submission of a context character appraisal, that the design of the development reflects and reinforces the character of the area.

Well-designed places and buildings should draw inspiration from the site, its surroundings or the wider context. It is important that applicants complete an appropriate context characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. appraisal to establish the appropriate baseline for a building’s design. A context characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. appraisal should include consideration of:

• Topography;
• Urban grainThe pattern of the arrangement of street blocks, plots and their buildings in a settlement. The degree to which an area’s pattern of blocks and plot subdivisions is respectively small and frequent (fine grain), or large and infrequent (coarse grain). Urban grain is a key component of defining the character of a place.;
• Significant skyline views;
• Scale and height;
• StreetscapeStreetscape is a term used to describe the natural and built fabric of the street, and defined as the design quality of the street and its visual effect, particularly how the paved area is laid out and treated. It includes buildings, the street surface, and also the fixtures and fittings that facilitate its use – from bus shelters and signage to planting schemes.;
• LandmarkA building or structure that stands out from its background by virtue of its design and architectural quality, height, size or some other aspect of design. buildings;
• Constraints and opportunities;
• Impact on nearby heritage assets;
• Opportunities for enhancing the townscape.

In places with a strong identityThe identity or character of a place comes from the way that buildings, streets and spaces, landscape and infrastructure combine together and how people experience them./context, new buildings should look to reflect and reinforce the existing characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site..

New Places may offer the opportunity to draw design inspiration from the wider context, or otherwise be directed by a masterplan or design framework for the site.

Proposals for buildings on industrial sites, depending on their context can sometimes offer the opportunity to deliver more innovative building forms and elevation treatments.

In historic areas, designers must assess the established historic characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. of the area as part of the contextThe context includes the immediate surroundings of the site, the neighbourhood in which it sits and the wider setting.  The context may include the physical surroundings of topography, movement patterns and infrastructure, built form and uses.  An understanding of the context, history and character of an area must influence the siting and design of new development. characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. appraisal of the site.

Applicants should demonstrate in their submission how this element of the Code has been complied with.

Documents required:

• Context characterCharacter includes all of the elements that go to make a place, how it looks and feels, its geography and landscape, its noises and smells, activity, people and businesses. This character should be understood as a starting point for all development. Character can be understood at three levels; the area type in which the site sits, its surroundings and the features of the site. appraisal (may be incorporated within the Design andAccess Statement)