URBAN DESIGN

The key design principles underpinning the West Stevenage applications reflect the Government’s better design agenda and the ‘Stevenage West Masterplanning Principles (2000)’ document drawn up and endorsed jointly by the three local planning authorities, Stevenage Borough Council, North Hertfordshire District Council and Hertfordshire County Council.

 

Stevenage Borough Councils' Supplementary Planning Guidance: ‘Development west of the A1(M) at Stevenage, Local Authority Masterplanning Principles (2001)

 
The design principles of the West Stevenage masterplan have been broadly endorsed by the Commission on Architecture & the Built Environment
  
“A good start in West Stevenage", says CABE

CABE said:
‘The committee found much to commend in the scheme, and were impressed with the clarity of the presentation and the quality of the imagery used to convey the key points of this large and complex project. The thorough, extensive and continued consultation process is welcomed. The work which has been done on sustainability is also welcomed.

‘We acknowledge the considerable care the master planners have taken in working with the consortium to develop ways of incorporating mixed use, higher density, permeable layouts and sustainability in a predominantly residential scheme. This represents an important move forward from where a comparable scheme would have been a few years ago.’”

CABE Press Release 22nd October 2001

 
Key Design Principles  

The key masterplanning principles adopted in the West Stevenage applications are:

  
  • Creation of a well-designed development
  • Engendering a sense of neighbourhood and community spirit
  • Establishing attractive public open spaces with green links for amenity, recreation, wildlife and biodiversity
  • Providing physical and social infrastructure that reduces the need to travel
  • Protecting the wider environment from the impact of development
  • Making the most of the location of development adjacent to Stevenage and its existing infrastructure
  • Setting an appropriate balance and mix of uses
  • Conserving important environmental assets including landscape, archaeological and ecological features
  • Minimising traffic generation from the development
  • Nurturing a diverse community
  • Ensuring efficient use of natural resources, including land.
  
The way that these principles have guided the development of the masterplan for West Stevenage are set out in the ‘Development Principles and Design Guide’ supporting the planning applications  
Development Principles and Design Guide Master Plan  


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Further detailed design control over the development will be achieved through the agreed draft planning conditions. For example, these include a requirement to produce a Development Code (Design Code) for the whole site.