Next Steps Aim to Put Beauty and Design at Heart of Planning

A NEW DESIGN body, tasked with driving up construction development design standards will be established by government appointed, Nicholas Boys Smith.

Last month, the government published proposals for a new planning system which will require local authorities to introduce their own local design codes.

Local rules for local developments

Nicholas will chair a steering group that will advise government on how best to help communities set local rules for local developments.

The government says the appointment will ensure that for the first time in history; beauty, design and high environmental standards are fundamental to every planning application.

The aim is to bring an end to ‘anywhereville’ developments.

Nicholas Boys Smith, Founding Director of Create Streets

Nicholas Boys Smith, said: “New places should be the conservation areas of the future: popular, beautiful, sustainable and supportive of public health and well-being. I am delighted to be asked to help achieve this and look forward to getting stuck in.”

As founding director of social enterprise Create Streets and co-chair for the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission, Mr Boys Smith is experienced in researching popular and healthy places.

Speaking at the Create Streets Conference today, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick will say: “For the first time in this country, we are embedding beauty, design and quality in the planning system.

“The creation of a new design body will empower communities to demand developments are built to local preferences. This will reflect the character and identity of their communities.”

Local listings

Charles O’Brien has also been appointed as a Listing Heritage Adviser to the government. As an architectural historian and commissioner at Historic England, Charles will spearhead work with councils to increase the number of buildings and structures of significant historical and cultural value that are locally listed, helping to protect them through the planning system.