Design and Access Statements

Design and Access Statements are documents that explain the design thinking behind a planning application. For example, they should show that the applicant has thought carefully about how everyone, including disabled people, older people and young children, will be able to use the places they want to build. Guidance on the preparation of Design and Access Statements is provided in Design and Access Statements - how to write, read and use them (CABE, 2006).

The 'design' part explains and illustrates the design thinking behind a proposal, elaborating on issues of use:

■  amount

■  layout

■  scale

■  landscape strategy and appearance, including how the local context has influenced the design

■  justification for what is being applied for

■  how it meets and complements relevant legislation and policy.

The statement also needs to include reference to aspects of access in a holistic way. Why the access points and transport routes have been chosen, and how the site responds to road layout and public transport provision. It should also cover inclusive access; how everyone can get to and move through the place on equal terms regardless of age, disability, ethnicity or social grouping.

Statements should include a written description and justification of the planning application. Photographs, maps and drawings are likely to be needed to illustrate the points made. They will be available alongside the application for anyone to see and so should avoid jargon or overly technical language. It is important that they are written specifically for the application they accompany. They need not be long, but the amount of detail they contain should reflect the complexity of the application and a statement for a major development is likely to be longer than one for smaller scale proposals.