Design codes

Research

Stages

Go back to Design codes summary

These are the questions we answer during the Research stage.

Answering them wil help us learn more about the Design codes consideration, determine if a data standard is required and whether we know enough to move on to the next stage.

  • Do we understand the lifecycle of a Design codes?

  • Do we understand how the data is created/produced?

    At the moment it is not produced. Planning authorities create their Design Code but do not also create data for it. Office for Place have seeded some data so that they can show the value of a design code library - a tool that can only be built if you have the required data

  • Where will or should the data be used?

    The data can be used by other authors of design codes. This can help them write better-quality codes that follow emerging patterns.

    The individual design code rules or requirements can be used by planning officers when making determinations on planning applications.

    • Local plans - Design codes are occasionally referenced in local plans, so we think that this consideration feeds into the process of creating a local plan as they will need to be followed and adhered to.

  • Who are the statutory consultees for Design codes?

  • Other than the statutory consultees who are the primary users of Design codes? How do we expect them to use Design codes?

  • What are the planning needs for this data?

    See write up of user needs on discussion thread

  • Who are the types of users who might benefit from having access to Design codes data?

    • Office for Place - they are champions of design codes and want to improve the quality and use of them
    • authors of Design Codes
    • urban planners
    • planning officers

  • What are some potential uses of Design codes data?

  • What's the value of adding Design codes data to the platform?

    We have a potential user of the data - the Office for Place would use it to build a design code library service.

    Design Codes are often large documents that are difficult to navigate. Data can help to break down that barrier, making them more widely used and adhered to.

    Our research suggests that getting authors of Design Codes to think about the data requirement from the outset will lead to more accessible and usable Design Codes

  • From what we have learnt so far are there any risks to making Design codes data available?

    No