Government Policy on Architecture 2009 – 2015 - Department of Arts ...

4.4 Supporting Architectural QualityGood building design is facilitated by ensuring that the appropriate planning and urban designframeworks are incorporated into the statutory instruments available to planning authorities.Foremost among these is the Development Plan. The objective must be to ensure that there is anincreasing approach to quality-led provisions in both statutory and non-statutory plans generatedby local authorities as set out in recent Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local<strong>Government</strong> guidance, previously referred to (see Appendix i).Action 27The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local <strong>Government</strong> will liaisewith relevant groups to derive guidelines with respect to a number of key issues:i. in collaboration with the relevant professional institutes, setting generallyapplicable performance criteria in relation to sustainability, under the inter-linkedheadings of environmental, economic and social criteria, taking account of bestinternational practice;ii. evaluating the criteria for high and large scale buildings in urban areas and theirimpact on historic urban areas.High quality architecture offers opportunities to adapt the experience and lessons ofpast rural building design to the current need for buildings to be carbon efficient whilemaking the most effective use of the natural advantages that rural locations may offerfor sustainable design. Contemporary architecture and design also have an importantrole to play in the design of rural buildings that make the best use of their location,while still blending into and enhancing the natural landscape.48 <strong>Government</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> on Architecture 2009 – 2015