What changes have been made to the existing Design Guide?
Consultation closed: 10am, Thursday 16 March 2023
Consultation opened: 10am, Tuesday 17 January 2023
The structure of the Design Guide has been changed to reflect the government’s national design guide.
Existing guidance from the current Design Guide has been updated, where necessary, and moved into the relevant chapter of the document. We have prepared an index (PDF) to help find information within the document.
Images have also been updated and case studies of developments in Central Bedfordshire have been included.
A new chapter on context and identity has been added to provide more information about the character of Central Bedfordshire’s towns, villages and countryside.
New guidance has also been added on the following topics:
- Street Trees and Biodiversity Net Gain
- school design
- space within the home for home working
- accessible design to ensure places are inclusive for everyone
- annexes, front garden buildings and extensions in the Green Belt to assist the development management process
- School Streets and Plays Streets that encourage environments for outdoor play
- community safety
- custom and self-build housing, with references to the Housing Policies Technical Guidance SPD
We have prepared some frequently asked questions (PDF) to provide further information on how the Design Guide has been updated.