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Design guidance

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There are many documents and websites that provide design guidance on proposed development. Development should abide by local, London-wide and national design standards.


Local design guidance

Newham has Supplementary Planning Documents that ensure development creates a high quality and accessible environment. In particular there are various documents that set out the standard of design expected from residential and shopfront development, including:

  • Shopfront SPG
  • Altering and Extending your Home SPG
  • Residential Planning Guidelines
  • Flat Conversion

To view these documents, as well as all of Newham's Supplementary Planning Documents, please visit our Supplementary Guidance page.

Newham also has specific design guidance for two of its conservation areas:


Newham's Parks Service has also produced a Park Design Guidance. This document is useful in designing any small or large open space within developments.

Newham Parks and Open Spaces Design Guide (pdf)

London design guidance

  • Development in London needs to abide by the policies and standards set out in the London Plan, including its policies on design, accessibility, and sustainability.
  • The Mayor of London is also drafting specific housing design guidance. It is expected that this document will be published in Summer 2010.
  • Urban Design London provides training and support on various design issues. Visit their website to find out more.



National design guidance

  • The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) publishes numerous design guidance documents on a range of issues in the built environment. Visit their website to read the documents.
  • English Heritage provides several useful publications on looking after the historic environment, which can be found on their website.
  • Building for Life is the national standard for well designed homes and neighbourhoods.
  • English Partnerships Parking Toolkit outlines how well designed parking can contribute to attractive and sustainable places.
  • The By Design publication promotes high standards in urban design and provides sound, practical advice on how to implement the Government's commitment to good design.
  • The Urban Design Compendium was produced by English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation to provide guidance on the fundamentals of good urban design and how quality places can be delivered.
  • English Heritage has produced new guidance to help local authorities and their contractors refurbish historic school buildings.
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