Urban design
About urban design
Urban design is about achieving high quality streets, spaces and buildings. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) defines it as "the art of making places for people" (By Design - CABE/DETR 2000).
Urban design is as much about creating places which function well as it is about creating places which look good. It's about creating places which are safe and which allow people to make sustainable movement choices. Urban design considers the shape of towns, the natural environment, buildings, movement networks and the processes which help to create a successful town. The aim is to work for better designed streets, public spaces and buildings to provide safe, innovative and functional solutions that are fit for purpose.
The government is requires all planning applications to adopt good urban design practice. A major part of this initiative is the requirement for many planning applications to be accompanied by Design and Access Statements to set out the rationale behind proposals. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has published information on design and access statements: How to write, read and use them.
What we do
Here at Cheltenham Borough Council, the urban design team has a varied role, which includes:
- providing urban design advice on planning, regeneration and highway matters
- preparing and commissioning urban design frameworks, development briefs, masterplans and planning guidance
- developing design concepts for development schemes, street design and highway improvement schemes
- providing a project management service
Who we work with
We work with a range of client groups, including:
1) within Cheltenham Borough Council:
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planners
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the conservation team
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arboriculturalists
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regeneration experts
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the parks team
2) at Gloucestershire County Council:
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transport planners
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highway designers
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highway maintenance engineers
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planners
3) planning, design and landscape teams from neighbouring councils
4) the public
5) the borough council's partners
6) developers
In addition to urban design and project management staff, the urban design team also includes the conservation and heritage team. Their work includes considering how planning proposals affect the special character of listed buildings and whether they preserve or enhance the character of conservation areas. For further information, please visit the conservation and heritage webpages.
Pages in Urban design
- 1 You are here: About urban design
- 2 Our work - supplementary planning documents
- 3 Our work - informal guidance notes
- 4 Our work - design
- 5 Further urban design guidance