Section 3: Place Making and Design Principles [PDF] - South Norfolk ...

3.4.2 Site-wide environmental features
Key principles
The location and layout of new
development proposals should be
designed to support the transition
to a low carbon economy in a
changing climate. (Section 3.9.3
Building performance assesses the
environmental sustainability of individual
buildings and Section 3.3.1 Public
transport assesses public transport
accessibility).
Why is it important?
A priority for the design of new
development is to reduce its impact upon
the environment (mitigation), and also to
reduce the environment’s impact upon
the development (adaptation to future
climate change). The following shifts in
weather are predicted for the UK:
• hotter drier summers;
• wetter warmer winters; and
• more intense weather events (rain
storms; high winds; extended dry
periods or cold – snow and ice).
Water availability and water quality are
already key issues for South Norfolk and
new development must not exacerbate
the situation.
Current requirements can be met on a
building-by-building basis. However,
this will become increasingly difficult to
achieve and more strategic site-wide
or communal approaches will become
necessary. A site-wide approach is
necessary for flood and surface water
management.
Design guidance
Proposals must comply with Joint Core
Strategy policy requirements for energy
and water.
Site-wide environmental solutions
must contribute to the character of the
development as well as solving technical
problems.
Site appraisal
The site appraisal should identify
opportunities for the location or layout of
development to be influenced by a sitewide
environmental strategy. Relevant
issues may include:
• watercourses;
• exposure to cold easterly winds;
• flood risk and drainage;
• soils and ground conditions;
• exposure to sun, such as slopes
facing south, or within 30 degrees of
it;
• biodiversity;
• open space and green infrastructure
policy requirements;
• construction waste requirements.
Energy
Energy strategies should follow the
principles of the energy hierarchy.
The site layout should allow for the
optimum arrangement in terms of
local microclimate, passive solar gain
and natural ventilation, relative to the
character of the local area, considering:
• the compactness of building forms,
such as terraced rather than detached
buildings;
• the orientation of streets, buildings
and roofs; and
• how elevations provide appropriate
levels of privacy for different locations,
such as street frontages or gardens.
The potential for local energy generation,
such as Combined Heat and Power
(CHP), biomass fuel, wind generation,
etc should also be investigated.
Street scenes can be designed so that
roofs are at the most suitable angle
for efficient solar panels: Proposals for
affordable housing scheme, Spooner
Row, Wymondham by Ingleton Wood
Architects for Saffron Housing Trust.
Main Contents
Section 3 Start
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Uses and
activities
3.3 Accessibility
3.4 Site assets
3.5 Character
3.6 Development
form
3.7 Public realm
3.8 Design
quality
3.9 Performance
3.10 Worked
example
3.9.3 Building
performance
3.3.1 Public
transport
142