Broadland & South Norfolk Custom and Self-Build Housing SPD

9. Design Codes and Plot Passports Comment

9.1 Many custom and self-build applications will come forward in the same way as those for other housing and the same requirements will be made in terms of achieving an appropriate design. However, the benefits of self-build include delivering properties tailored to the requirements of the self-builder and potentially providing a greater variety and innovation in design.

9.2 Advice on design can be found in both Broadland and South Norfolk Council's Development Management policies documents and in the case of South Norfolk its Place-Making Guide SPD. Design code work in Neighbourhood Plans should also be taken into account. Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design have been appointed to develop a district wide Design Code for both Broadland and South Norfolk, which should be adopted in 2025. More information can be found online at Broadland and South Norfolk district-wide Design Codes | Broadland and South Norfolk (southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk).

Design Codes Comment

9.3 Design codes play an important role in the delivery of custom and self-build housing. They can maximise the level of design freedom whilst providing for a coherent and high-quality development that responds to its context. A design code is a set of written and illustrated rules that establish the design parameters of a development and of each plot.

9.4 Both Broadland and South Norfolk Councils recommend that a design code should be agreed for developments that include 5 or more custom and self-build homes. The design code should be agreed prior to marketing the plots for sale to provide certainty for potential purchasers as to what they can and cannot build. Where self-build units form part of a larger scheme the Councils would normally expect a design code to be agreed at the outline permission stage so that the units come forward in a coherent but not prescriptive manner.

9.5 As a rule, in preparing a design code the starting point will be to secure as much design freedom for the initial occupant as possible, only fixing design parameters where necessary to ensure coherent and harmonious design across the whole of the scheme in accordance with local plan policies. Consideration must be given to the cumulative effects of design code parameters to ensure that when taken together they are not unnecessarily restrictive.

9.6 As a guide the councils would expect a design code to include the following parameters:

• Layout
• Plot size and shape.
• Developable footprint
• Building height or number of storeys (which can vary across a site)
• Orientation
• Landscaping
• Boundary treatments
• Material palette
• Car and cycle parking
• Refuse storage.
• Construction compound and material storage areas

Plot Passports Comment

9.7 Plot passports are concise and visual documents that provide potential purchasers with certainty about the key design and development parameters that apply to the design and construction of a custom or self-build home on the plot. Broadland and South Norfolk Councils would recommend plot passports for all custom and self-build developments of 5 or more homes where a design code is required.

9.8 Plot passports should, as a minimum, provide the following information:

• Plot location.
• Plot size and shape.
• Developable footprint (Gross Internal Area)
• Building height or number of storeys
• Number and location of car parking and cycle storage spaces.
• Refuse storage.
• Any other design and development parameters established in the design code (if any)
• Likely ground conditions, including any on-site constraints such as root protection zones.
• Servicing infrastructure location
• Construction compound and materials storage area
• CIL exemption
• Plot price and
• Access to surveys conducted by the site wide applicant.

9.9 Plot passports should be prepared as early in the design and planning process as possible and must be available to potential plot purchasers as soon as plots are marketed. Plot passports should be as concise as possible, ideally kept to a single A4 page.

9.10 Design codes and plot passports may be of benefit for sites less than 5 dwellings in certain circumstances where the design and layout of plots is particularly sensitive and in these instances this discussion will form part of the application process.