Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas

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Planning Guidelines
permission in specified circumstances. Part L of the Building
Regulations 2005 deals with the conservation of fuel and energy in
new buildings; revised Part L standards which came into force in
2008 aim to achieve up to a 40% improvement on current standards.
Planning authorities can complement improved building standards
by encouraging energy-efficient layouts.
Privacy and security
7.4 Privacy is an important element of residential amenity, and
contributes towards the sense of security felt by people in their
homes. Where ground floor dwellings have little or no front gardens,
it is important that “defensible space” is created behind the public
footpath, for example, by means of a planting strip, and the design of
ground floor windows will need to be carefully considered. Similarly
at the rear of dwellings, there should be adequate separation
(traditionally about 22 m between 2-storey dwellings) between
opposing first floor windows. However, such rules should be
applied flexibly: the careful positioning and detailed design of
opposing windows can prevent overlooking even with shorter backto-back
distances. Windows serving halls and landings do not
require the same degree of privacy as, say, balconies and living
rooms.
7.5 Designers can also contribute towards better safety by:
• ensuring clear definition of private, communal and public
spaces,
• preventing unauthorised access to rear gardens by means of
suitable boundary treatment,
• maximising natural surveillance of the street from windows,
and
• avoiding blank facades to the public domain.
Car and bicycle parking
7.6 Car parking standards need to be set at realistic levels (having regard,
inter alia, to proximity to public transport) in order to avoid parked
vehicles causing obstruction on residential streets in the evenings or