Important Update Crudwell Neighbourhood Plan Design Code

As you are aware we are currently engaged in a formal review of the Crudwell Neighbourhood Plan. This is necessary to ensure that any housing development in the village prior to 2038 is at a scale, design and affordability which meets local needs.

As part of this work the Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group has commissioned a required Crudwell Design Code to update the current Design Guide in our 2021 Neighbourhood Plan. The architectural consultants toured the parish with us during February in order to help develop the code and have now delivered a first draft.

The clue is in the title; a Design Guide gives guidance whereas a Design Code gives specific instruction to developers of new housing and to extensions of existing properties. The code will help to ensure that any development is in keeping with and complimentary to our village street scene and heritage.

Following our consultation event in Crudwell Village Hall on Tuesday the 22^nd of April we have now made the draft design code available online for your review together with a simple form where you can give your views or suggestions. Please review the guide and then make your comments on the response form.

The Design Code is available here, and the response form which you can complete and submit can be found below.

Your comments will be taken into account as part of the completion of the final version of the code which will be part of the new Crudwell Neighbourhood Plan.

Roy F Hamilton-Lambley
Chairman Crudwell Parish Council

Response Form

Your full name

Your email

What are the most important themes for design in Crudwell?

5 key themes covered in the design code and guidance and listed below along with the types of design guidance which apply to each theme. Please check the box next to any of the themes that you think are most important to Crudwell.

Theme 1: Built form

Designing for the local context
Materials and architectural details
Building scale and housing mix
Development edges

Theme 2: Public realm

Boundary lines and treatment
Biodiversity
Trees and open spaces
Active travel (walking, cycling)
Parking design and layout

Theme 3: Business Park

Environmental sustainability
Movement
Materials and layout of employment units

Theme 4: Sustainability

Water management- mitigate flooding
Eco-home features
Street lighting and dark skies

Theme 5: Conservation area

Use of traditional materials
Fenestration detailing
Roofscape

Theme 1: Built Form

1. Consider the context: What key characteristics of the parish need to be preserved in new development?

2. Building scale and housing mix: What are the preferred sizes and types of housing in new development?

3. Materials and architectural details: What local materials, colours and architectural details should be adopted in new development?

4. Set in rural landscape/development edges: What qualities characterise settings along the rural edges?

Design review plan theme 1 examples

Theme 2: Public Realm

1. Boundary lines and boundary treatments: What are the key characteristics of boundary lines and treatments in Crudwell?

2. Biodiversity: What habitats are important to be preserved?

3. Trees: Are there examples of less-vegetated places?

4. Open spaces: What types/sizes of open spaces are needed for the community?

5. Prioritise walking and cycling: Where could the footpath network be improved? What would make walking and cycling in Crudwell safer? Is there a need for better signage?

6. People-friendly streets: What are the characteristics of good street examples (layout, width, well-vegetated etc.) in Crudwell?

7. Vehicular and cycle parking and servicing: What parking solutions are most appropriate in new development?

Design review plan theme 2 examples

Theme 3: Business Park

1. Environmental sustainability: What, if any, eco-design features would you want to see incorporated into the business park, for example solar panels, green roofs, use of SuDS?

2. Movement and parking: What parking layouts would improve the business park? Is there a need for better active travel provision - pedestrian routes, cycle storage?

3. Materials: What materials and colours should be used in the business park? Does the current brick and green panel design (pictured below) work well within the local context or do you have better suggestions?

Design review plan theme 3 examples

Theme 4: Sustainability

1. Water management: What are the greatest flooding risks posed by new development?

2. Eco-home features: What, if any, eco-design features would you want to see incorporated into new development?

3. Street Lighting: Where is street lighting needed and where are dark skies important?

Design review plan theme 4 examples

Theme 5: Conservation Area

1. Potential new development and proximity to the conservation area: What are the most important elements from the conservation area that new development should respond to?

2. Traditional materials and roofscape: What are the main materials and rooflines you would expect to see on buildings within and close to the conservation area?

3. Fenestration: What materials and designs you would expect to see for windows and doors within and close to the conservation area?

Design review plan theme 5 examples