Design Optimisation Service (DOS)
About the Design Optimisation Service (DOS)
Derby is striving to raise the bar of design quality within the city.
The design quality of developments of all scales from house extensions to apartment blocks has routinely fallen short of expectations. Resultantly, this has created a negative perception towards new development proposals amongst residents, visitors and businesses.
The Design Optimisation Service (DOS) is an interactive, workshop-based, specialist design advice service provided by Derby City Council.
The service has an urban, architectural and landscape design focus. It provides informal, solutions based advice on most development proposals.
DOS is available for a range of application types and applicants. Whether you are a homeowner proposing a domestic extension or a professional developer delivering major development on a city centre site.
Engagement with DOS is optional, but it is strongly recommended at your pre-application stage. It may also be recommended by officers after an application has been submitted.
There are two pathways to the service:
P1: design composition
Before making a planning application you can opt into P1: design composition. This access point to the pre-application advice service is then upgraded to a ‘Pre-app Plus’.
P1 is typically for larger, emerging development proposals. The overarching design principles can be reviewed whilst the proposal is still being developed. However, it may still be recommended for smaller projects which have specific complexities which need to be addressed.
P1 includes a ‘solutions focussed’ design workshop. During the workshop, there will be an open discussion about the emerging urban, architectural and landscape design principles. A high-level steer will be provided by council officers on the developing design.
The workshop is in addition to the usual pre-application meeting.
P2: design optimisation
After an application has been submitted and reviewed by council officers, the development proposal may be referred for pathway 2 (P2). This is highly likely if fundamental urban, architectural and landscape design issues have been identified. The view is to provide informal design advice on how the issues could be overcome.
P2 is open to developed proposals of all scales (including house extensions).
Participation in the service is optional, however it would be strongly recommended to engage with DOS to give your development proposal the best chance of being acceptable on design grounds.
Both P1 and P2 typically involve a combination of visual and written outcomes.
Benefits of the service
Engagement with the Design Optimisation Service (DOS) benefits you, the applicant. The key benefits are that:
- discussion in an interactive, informal workshop can expedite the process of reaching a consensus over urban, architectural and landscape design issues. This can help remove uncertainty and delays from the planning process
- solution focussed recommendations provide actionable advice to you to address how identified design issues can be overcome
- whilst the informal advice given as part of DOS can’t guarantee planning permission, you can have reassurance that if the development proposal takes on board the DOS recommendations, it would give it a better chance of approval on architectural, urban and landscape design grounds
- by ensuring development proposals of the highest quality come forward and are approved, the negative perception of new development in Derby can be reversed, resulting in greater public support for development within Derby, mitigating uncertainty from the planning process.
How the service is delivered
The Design Optimisation Service is delivered through interactive design workshops which will focus on the urban, architectural and landscape design of proposals. The workshops are typically held virtually on MS Teams. For larger, more complex proposals there is scope for in-person workshops to be arranged.
Before the workshop
Prior to the workshop, you will need to share the relevant information (if not already done so), a minimum of 10 working days before the workshop.
During the workshop
During the workshop, you will have the opportunity to present and talk through the development proposal. This will then be followed by a collaborative discussion between our officers and you to establish what the design issues are and what the potential design solutions could be.
Drawing and visual communication may be used to develop the solutions focussed design advice. Precedents of existing projects may also be shared.
Typically, our urban designer and other relevant officers may be present at the workshop. You are recommended to bring your design team to the workshop.
After the workshop
Following the workshop, our urban designer will provide you with a written design advice form which will summarise the key point of discussion during the workshop. It would then be down to you to incorporate this advice into the development proposal.
How you can opt in
You can choose to opt in or you may be referred to the service by our planning officers.
Participation with the Design Optimisation Service (DOS) is optional, but if a proposal has been referred, it is for a good reason, therefore strongly recommended.
Download and complete the Design Optimisation Service agreement form, then email it to Urban.Design@derby.gov.uk.
Design Optimisation Service fees
The cost of engagement with DOS is dependent on the size and complexity of the proposal. This is based on our pre-application categories and is also subject to whether the P1 or P2 pathway is being taken.
The following tables summarise the categories, fees and our time commitment, for a range of application types for both pathways.
Categories
| Category | Types | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Category A | Very large development |
|
| Category B | Major development |
|
| Category C | Minor development |
|
| Category D | Works to listed buildings | |
| Category E |
Change of use (not including major developments / engineering work) |
|
| Category F | Domestic extensions and one dwelling |
|
| Category G | Actual high hedge applications | |
| Category H | Advice which is not covered by any of the above categories or requires a fee to be agreed with the chief planning officer |
Fees (from November 2025)
All fees are inclusive of VAT
P1: design composition (pre-planning)
| Category | Workshop duration | Fee | Review of revised proposals following workshop |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 hour and 30 minutes | £2400 | £600 |
| B | 1 hour | £2040 | £510 |
| C | 45 minutes | £1080 | £270 |
| F | 30 minutes | £180 | £60 |
For P1, there is the option for the applicant to opt in for a review of the revised development proposals following the workshop for an additional fee as shown. The provision of the post-workshop recommendation form is included within the overall fee.
P2: design optimisation (post-application validation)
| Category | Workshop duration | Fee | Review of revised proposals following workshop* |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 hour and 30 minutes | £1200 | N/A |
| B | 1 hour | £1020 | N/A |
| C | 45 minutes | £540 | N/A |
| F | 30 minutes | £120 | N/A |
*For P2 there is no option for a review of revised proposals following the workshop. The proposals would be reviewed formally as part of the planning application determination.
Please note: for both pathways, the time commitment from the Council will be strictly adhered to. There will be no opportunity for further design advice outside of the scheduled workshop.
DOS is not available for application categories D, E, G and H. This includes proposals involving heritage buildings (where specialist conservation pre-app advice service already exists).
Payment of fees
Please use our online payment service.
What the Design Optimisation Service won't do
It is important to note that the Design Optimisation Service will not guarantee planning permission nor mean that an application will be looked on favourably by officers during determination.
In addition, there may be cases where despite the architectural, urban and landscape design being satisfactory after having engaged with DOS, a proposal may still be recommended for refusal on other grounds such as highways or policy reasons.
We won’t design your scheme for you. It is down you and your team to consider how to action the informal guidance from officers.
This guidance would not be binding on any future recommendation which may be made to the Council or any formal decision by the Council. Any advice given is without prejudice and not binding on any future decision we might make and cannot pre-empt consideration of a formal application.