This web page introduces some important ideas about urban design for Derby.

By 'urban design' we mean intentions for the built form within a town or city. Urban design includes the design of individual buildings and their relationship with their surroundings. It includes what we do with the 'public realm', the streets and other open spaces which we share and which bind together the buildings to make the City.

Our starting points are that good design should be:

To achieve higher standards for architecture and the built environment, these are the starting points for urban design nationally as well as locally.

We believe that good design can:

• help promote sustainable development
• improve the quality of the existing environment
• attract business and investment
• reinforce civic pride and a sense of place.

All of these are very important objectives for Derby.

But isn't design quality subjective? How can we tell when we've got 'good design'?

The answer to the first question is, mainly, "no". There is a subjective element in judging design quality, but an objective approach is certainly possible. We believe that Derby will lose out if we see design as a purely subjective matter. We will have misunderstood what good urban design is all about. In answer to the second question, we want to encourage an objective approach so that informed discussion can take place about this very important topic.

The first of our brief and downloadable Derby Design Papers is:

• Good Design in development - is it subjective?  107kb

It presents the argument that differences of opinion and matters of personal taste should not be allowed to obscure the fact that it is possible to arrive at opinions about design quality that are based on objective criteria. To help with an objective approach to design, the paper includes a useful 'checklist of aspects of development form' which helps to give a frame of reference for discussions about the design of developments.

What is design for? What are we trying to achieve? The second of our downloadable papers is about:

• Objectives of urban design - the big picture 70kb

It sets out what urban design is all about at the national as well as the local level.

References

The Derby City Design Papers contain some very important references which elaborate on as well as justify our approach to urban design. Here is a list of these and one or two other key urban design references, together with some key web site links.

Urban design - general

• Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions / C.A.B.E. (2000) By Design - Urban Design in the Planning System: towards better practice
• Department of the Environment (1997) Planning Policy Guidance Note 1: General Policy and Principles (revised)
• D.T.L.R. (undated) Better Places to live by Design - A companion guide to Planning Policy Note 3
• English Partnerships/ Housing Corporation (2000) Urban Design Compendium

Urban design in historic areas

• C.A.B.E./English Heritage (2002) Building in Context - New Development in Historic Areas

Design policy

• Carmona, M.; Punter, J.; Chapman D.; (2002) From Design Policy to Design Quality - The treatment of design in community strategies, local development frameworks and action plans R.T.P.I.

Important web sites

• CABE
• Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
• Resource for Urban Design Information
• RIBA
• Royal Town Planning Institute
• Urban Design Alliance
• Urban Design Group
• Planning Resource

For further information please contact the Built Environment Team

Telephone 01332 255060  Minicom 01332 256666  Fax 01332 255989  e-mail built.heritage@derby.gov.uk