Design in the built environment

Charnwood is an attractive and vibrant borough with an impressive and diverse legacy of architecture, settlements and landscapes.

The Plans, Policies and Place Making Group is responsible for providing advice and guidance that will help secure higher design standards.

Planning permission for larger or prominent developments will sometimes depend on the effect that this development would have on the local landscape. The Group can offer initial landscape advice to applicants and keeps an eye on the process of planting conditions during the process.

Building for life

Village Design Statement

A Village Design Statement (VDS) sets out guidance for the design of all development in a village, based on its character. It is produced by the community, not by the planning authority. Area Design Statements may also be produced for an area of a town, eg. a ward of Loughborough.

The following Village Design Statements have been adopted as supplementary planning documents

• Burton on the Wolds Village Design Statement 
• Woodhouse Village Design Statement
• Woodhouse Eaves Village Design Statement 
• Newtown Linford Village Design Statement 
• Quorn Village Design Statement 

The following Village Design Statements have been adopted as guidance.

• Wymeswold Village Design Statement

Barrow upon Soar Village Design Statement is available as a hard copy from the Parish Council. Please call 01509 416016 (Mon - Thurs 10am - 1pm).

Leading in Design

The following planning document explains the importance of higher design standards and we hope to encourage, promote and inspire positive development in Charnwood.

Leading in Design promotes distinctive and vibrant places for people and sets out to reduce the impact on the local environment by re-using previously developed land and buildings, and introducing techniques that reduce water and energy use.

• Leading in Design (PDF Document, 0.94 Mb)
• Making it Easy (complete version) (PDF Document, 4.95 Mb)
• Shopfronts & Signs SPD (PDF Document, 0.5 Mb)
• Public Art: Making Places Distinctive (PDF Document, 7.95 Mb)

Charnwood Design Awards

The Charnwood Design Awards Scheme was set up to recognise projects that have contributed most to the quality of Charnwood’s built environment. Its aims are to promote interest in the built environment and to encourage good practice and better standards in building conservation, new development and landscaping generally.

Designing streets for people as well as traffic

Guidance is available for practitioners involved in the design, planning and approval of new residential streets and modifications to existing ones. It was produced jointly by the Department for Transport and Department for Communities and Local Government:

• Manual for Streets