Image: BPTW
4. Setting a design vision and coding plan This section summarises learnings from the Pathfinders on setting a vision for their coding area, allocating area types and preparing a coding plan that effectively reflects both. •
Pathfinders struggled to pin down an overall vision for their coding area, and often underestimated how long it would take to clearly define their vision and objectives.
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Identifying the character of an area helps to determine the priorities of a design code. However, a lack of knowledge on how to use area types meant some Pathfinders struggled to determine a proportionate number of area types for the scale of their code. Some Pathfinders chose to divert from the NMDC guidance and developed alternative approaches to using area types. These included: • Developing a code from local priorities, rather than area types.
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Design vision diagrams for Medway and Reigate & Banstead design code
“The NMDC suggests the approach of using area types, but we never really set out to do it that way… maybe it could work for some authorities, but we just didn’t want to be too prescriptive. It was crucial that we linked into those high-level objectives and tried to bring them down into the detail of what that actually looks like on the ground.” • Using area types to develop a series of area-specific codes each with their own objectives, which were then used to define over-arching design principles:
“We developed site-specific codes and worked with stakeholders and officers to define different character areas within the town centre… from there we were able to create good design principles and coding elements that would be applicable across the whole town centre, regardless of where you are.”
Design Code Pathfinders Programme Evaluation Report