National Model Design Code

[edit] Background to the National Model Design Code development

On 30 January 2021 the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government launched a consultation on draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and a new draft National Model Design Code. The pilot programme was announced on 21 May 2021 and the final version of the Code was published on 20 July 2021. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-model-design-code

In 2022 the Design Council worked with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Office for Place (DLUHC), providing design advice and support to 25 selected pathfinders in Phase 2 of the Pathfinders Programme. Made up of local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups they developed Design Codes to help raise the quality of the built environment in their local area. They built on the experience of 16 previous participants who took part in the National Design Code Pilot Programme (NPFF) in 2021.

Phase 2 focused on the design code creation process, offering best practices from local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups. Phase 3 extended this by sharing experiences from pathfinders implementing their codes, with practical tips for future teams integrating codes into daily planning. Their work can be found here Design Codes: A set of design requirements created with local communities to develop new visions for an area.

[edit] Consultation on further proposed reforms to NPPF in 2024

On 30 July 2024 the newly elected Labour government on launched a consultation on proposed reforms to NPPF and other changes to the planning system. This included references to and the strengthening of the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code, in paragraphs 17-20 of the section Requiring “well designed” development:

"17. The NPPF was updated in December 2023 to include six additional references to the term ‘beauty’ and ‘beautiful’ when relating to well-designed development. This is further to five references to ‘beautiful’ places already set out within the September 2023 NPPF.

18. The Government recognises the importance of beauty in the built environment as an important objective of well-designed places. However, as recognised by previous consultees, including further references to ‘beauty’ and ‘beautiful’ may result in inconsistency in how it is applied in decision-making, as many find the term subjective and difficult to define. There is already a clear framework through policy and guidance on how to achieve well-designed places (as set out in the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code - NMDC), to enable this to be decided by local planning authorities, working together with developers and the community, which is accepted and understood by communities and the built environment sector.

19. We propose to reverse the changes made in 2023 to the Framework that reference beauty and beautiful in relation to well-designed development.

20. We also propose to make small amendments to the changes made in 2023 to paragraph 138 of the existing Framework to clarify the original intention for this wording to reflect that the National Model Design Code is now in widespread use and that the NMDC or where available local design guides and codes, prepared in line with the national guidance, is the primary means of assessing and improving the design of development."

The National Model Design Code forms part of the government’s planning practice guidance and expands on the 10 characteristics of good design set out in the National design guide, which reflects the government’s priorities and provides a common overarching framework for design.

[edit] Initial changes to the NPPF in 2021

The proposed amendments to the NPPF implement policy changes in response to the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission “Living with Beauty” report. The Government suggests a wider review of the NPPF is likely to be required ‘in due course’. The draft National Model Design Code provided detailed guidance on the production of local design codes, guides and policies to promote successful design. It expands on the ten characteristics of good design set out in the National Design Guide, and reflects the government’s priorities, creating a common overarching framework for design.

It suggested: “A design code is a set of simple, concise, illustrated design requirements that are visual and numerical wherever possible to provide specifc, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area. This guide is a toolkit to guide local planning authorities on the design parameters and issues that need to be considered and tailored to their own context when producing design codes and guides, as well as methods to capture and reflect the views of the local community from the outset, and at each stage in the process”.

It: '....sets out clear design parameters to help local authorities and communities decide what good quality design looks like in their area. The National Model Design Code forms part of the government’s planning practice guidance and expands on the ten characteristics of good design set out in the National design guide, which reflects the government’s priorities and provides a common overarching framework for design.'

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Building Beautiful Places plan.
• Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission interim report.
• Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.
• Design codes: intentions and reality.
• Future Homes Standard.
• Government Construction Strategy.
• National design guide.
• National planning policy framework NPPF.
• Office for place.
• Pilot programme for National Model Design Code NMDC.