Planning Policy Wales - Brecon Beacons National Park

materials (including where possible sustainably produced materials from local sources), will be
particularly important. The impact of development on listed buildings should be given particular
attention.
4.10.11 Local planning authorities and developers should consider the issue of accessibility for all,
including the needs of people with sensory impairments, people with learning difficulties and people
with mobility impairments, such as wheelchair users, elderly people and people with young children,
at an early stage in the design process (see 3.4).
4.10.12 Local authorities are under a legal obligation to consider the need to prevent and reduce
crime and disorder in all decisions that they take. Crime prevention and fear of crime are social
considerations to which regard must be given by local planning authorities in the preparation of
development plans. They should be reflected in any supplementary planning guidance, and may be
material considerations in the determination of planning applications. The aim should be to produce
safe environments through good design 21 .
4.10.13 Design is an inclusive process, which can raise public aspirations, reinforce civic pride
and a sense of place or ‘bro’, and help to secure continued public acceptance of new development.
Local planning authorities should encourage early consultation/pre-application discussions with
potential developers and other interested parties on design matters and design and access
statements.
4.10.14 A design and access statement is a communication tool explaining how the objectives of
good design have been considered from the outset of the development process. In preparing design
and access statements, applicants should take an integrated and inclusive approach to sustainable
design, proportionate to the scale and type of development proposal. They should be ‘living’ 22
documents dealing with all relevant aspects of design throughout the process and the life of the
development, clearly stating the comprehensive design principles and concepts adopted and include
illustrative material in plan elevation and section where relevant.
4.10.15 Development plans should provide clear policies, supported where appropriate by
supplementary planning guidance, setting out the design expectations of local planning authorities
for various places and development proposals. Local planning authorities should encourage good
quality design of buildings and spaces in their policies and guidance and should use these to
eliminate poor quality development.
4.10.16 Planning and development briefs should be used to outline sustainable design requirements
where appropriate. Supplementary planning guidance and briefs can usefully be prepared in
partnership with stakeholders and should be subject to appropriate consultation. The preparation
of audits and appraisals can assist local planning authorities in the exercise of their planning and
development control functions. Design frameworks can also help to revitalise towns and other urban
areas and to guide development in villages.
Planning Policy Wales Edition 3 - July 2010 - Chapter 4 Planning for Sustainability
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