Small Site Design Codes LPG

The Small Site Design Codes guidance provides information on how to prepare area-wide housing design codes on small sites for a range of character types. Where appropriate, planning authorities and neighbourhood planning groups should refer this guidance at the planning making stage when developing design codes. Once a design code is adopted for a specific area, boroughs and other decision-makers are expected to use these as a basis for their decision making.

London Plan policy H2 requires boroughs to prepare design codes for small sites, where appropriate. These small site design codes are a particular type of design code that can be applied to a ‘character type’ (also called an ‘area type’ within the National Model Design Code) within a given area. These design codes should pro-actively support well-designed new homes on small sites by providing clarity and certainty over the design and quality of small site residential development. They are a key mechanism to delivering a borough’s small sites housing target and an increase in housing through incremental housing developments.

Between 13 October 2020 and 15 January 2021, a public consultation was held on the Good Quality Homes for All Londoners Guidance. Since this consultation, the guidance has been revised to reflect the consultation feedback.

A lot of the information in the guidance is the same or similar to the previous consultation. However, it has been split into four separate LPGs, refined and presented differently and, in some cases, refocussed on processes and checklists that can be used to meet the requirements of the policies in the London Plan.

This guidance has been produced by the Greater London Authority (GLA). It has been prepared in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty and an Equality Impact Assessment has been produced.

Public engagement on the guidance is currently underway. Responses need to be submitted by 27 March 2022. Register to be notified of planning policy consultations or sign up for GLA Planning News.