A design code for beauty raises lots of questions

By Mark Leeson2021-02-11T06:00:00

It is positive to see such a focus on design quality, but the guidance is unlikely to resolve the tug of war between planners and developers

Arguments over what constitutes beauty in architecture have raged since time began. So will the publication of the new national design guide and national model design code, which outline the standards new developments are expected to meet, really “pioneer beauty within the planning system”, as the government claims?

On the face of it, the guidance does not differ much from many of the aspirational documentation that already exists, other than branding it as ‘national’. However, the broad principles behind the new documents are welcome, in particular spelling out – in one place – the 10 characteristics to consider before starting the design process.

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