Central Lincolnshire Design Code

If you would like to know more about Central Lincolnshire and the work of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plans team please click on the video below.

All local planning authorities are required to produce a design code for their area to cover design issues commonly found across the whole authority area. This is called an ‘authority wide design code’. The code can be produced either as part of a Local Plan or as a Supplementary Plan. The preparation of an authority wide design code is a new national requirement, brought into force through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

The Central Lincolnshire authorities are preparing a design code which will cover the entire administrative areas of the City of Lincoln, North Kesteven and West Lindsey.  Click here to see the timeline for the project.  

This webpage will provide updates on the design code process and give you an opportunity to submit your ideas and feedback.

A design code is a tool to help shape places by improving the quality of buildings and spaces for residents, businesses and visitors. There is a short introductory video to design codes, available to view on the righthand side.

Design codes set out clear design requirements, or ‘rules’, for new development to follow, based upon a vision for the future of an area and  design principles  or priorities agreed upon with the local community.

The requirements of the design code are typically illustrated with drawings and photos (for example, to show what buildings and spaces might look like), and often include numerical values (for example, to provide dimensions or quantity).

Design codes can be created for a local authority area, for a neighbourhood area or for individual development sites. The Central Lincolnshire authority wide design code will form an overarching design framework for Central Lincolnshire underneath which more detailed rules could be prepared for specific areas or sites. These could be prepared by the Local Planning Authority, a developer or local communities through a Neighbourhood Planning Group.

Design codes differ from design guidance by including mandatory requirements for design issues that are important to communities through the use of clear language.

When preparing a design code, communities need to be involved at each stage of the process. The community involves all people living and working in and around the area for which the code is being produced together with local interest groups, stakeholders and elected representatives .  

The process for preparing the design code is based on seven main steps.

Good design is not only about how a new development looks, but also how it functions and integrates with its surroundings.

The National Design Guide sets out the Government’s priorities for well-designed places in the form of 10 characteristics of good design as shown in the wheel below.

The characteristics are based around three main themes:

• Character: how a new development will interact with the existing environment and how the unique traits of a local area can be maintained and enhanced.

• Community: how existing and future residents will be able to use and enjoy places, and how a development can support and sustain a sense of community.

• Climate: how the design and construction of developments can be environmentally sustainable.

The  National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)  sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these should be applied. Chapter 12 “Achieving well-designed and beautiful places” states the importance of design quality. The design code will provide clarity about what will be expected in terms of design quality for future development within Central Lincolnshire.

The  Central Lincolnshire Local Plan  includes a specific policy on design. Policy S53 Design and Amenity requires all development, including extensions and alterations to existing buildings, to achieve high quality sustainable design. The policy goes on to state that where design codes have been adopted developments will be expected to adhere to the code.

The users of the Central Lincolnshire authority wide design code will be all those involved with, and with an interest in, the future development of Central Lincolnshire. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Planning Officers within the Local Planning Authorities
• Planning Committees
• Elected Councillors
• Parish Councils
• Members of the community
• Local interest groups
• Property owners
• Developers
• Land owners
• Architects and designers
• Planning agents
• Statutory consultees

Design codes can be produced either as part of a local plan or as a supplementary plan. By being included in local plans or other supporting plans, these codes have  full weight  in making planning decisions on development.

The Central Lincolnshire Authorities intend to adopt the Central Lincolnshire authority wide design code as a supplementary plan.

Although not a requirement, design codes can be produced by neighbourhood planning groups, either for all or some of the neighbourhood area or a specific site for development and can form part of the neighbourhood plan.

Neighbourhood plan design codes must be compatible with codes that have been adopted by the local planning authority, including authority-wide design codes and other site-based design codes to which they relate, to avoid conflicting or overlapping requirements.

Neighbourhood plan design codes are likely to be much shorter and more concise than those codes produced by a local planning authority, with fewer detailed requirements, and guidance that is specific for the neighbourhood area.

Further guidance on design codes for Neighbourhood Plans is available on the  Neighbourhood Planning website .

The main stages of the design code project and how you can be involved are set out below:

Parts of the local area, defined by the local authority and local communities, that share common features, characteristics and function. Common rules and guidance is then applied to each area type in the design code.

A plan of the area to be covered by the design code which shows the local areas to which the code will apply.

The coding plan can show:

• Existing built-up areas
• Landscape designated areas
• Heritage areas
• Protected open space
• Special policy areas
• Development areas

A set of illustrated design requirements that provide specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area. The graphic and written components of the code should build upon a design vision, such as a masterplan or other design and development framework for a site or area.

The design values that applicants will be expected to demonstrate through their planning applications.

A clear articulation of what an area should be like in the future, developed with the local community.

Can be used by a decision maker to assess planning applications for development within the design code area.

A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest. It includes designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing).

 The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023  provides for the creation of new planning policy documents called Supplementary Plans.

Supplementary Plans may only be used to set out authority wide design codes or to on a site-specific basis, for example, to support a new development opportunity, or to build on existing policies in the local plan.

Supplementary Plans have the same weight as a local plan and are subject to consultation and examination.