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I am concerned that the strong emphasis placed on the District Councils prospectus for Garden Towns, villages and suburbs is too restrictive. There are many ways in which high quality design can be introduced to an environment and one of the keys is to have carefully assembled variety of design sets. This helps to give a sense of place.

The Garden Town concept is excellent when appropriately used but it will not be appropriate for all developments and other design concepts will give as good or better results. The use of this document within the option almost requires it to be followed to the letter including sketch layouts as to what a Neighbourhood should look like. In addition it suggests a maximum density of 30 households per ha which is low when land resources are restricted. Farther to walk between houses and therefore will lead to greater car use.

NPPF (para 59). Local planning authorities should consider using design codes where they could help deliver high quality outcomes. However, design policies should avoid unnecessary prescription or detail and should concentrate on guiding the overall scale, density, massing, height, landscape, layout, materials and access of new development in relation to neighbouring buildings and the local area more generally.

And - (para 60). Planning policies and decisions should not attempt to impose architectural styles or particular tastes and they should not stifle innovation, originality or initiative through unsubstantiated requirements to conform to certain development forms or styles. It is, however, proper to seek to promote or reinforce local distinctiveness.
Although visual appearance and the architecture of individual buildings are very important factors, securing high quality and inclusive design goes beyond aesthetic considerations. Therefore, planning policies and decisions should address the connections between people and places and the integration of new development into the natural, built and historic environment.