East Lothian Council has approved new supplementary planning guidance (SPG) called 'Design Standards for New Housing Areas' (DSNHA). The new SPG will be a material consideration in the determination of any planning application for all housing sites allocated in the Finalised East Lothian Local Plan 2005, as modified and subsequently adopted, and for any planning application for housing development submitted on or after 1st June 2008.

The DSNHA revise and draw together into a single document the Council's key planning and transportation requirements for the layout and design of new housing areas. The new standards fundamentally review the direction of the Councils design policies; applicants are required to review their approach, to place more importance on the process and outcomes of design, and to widen the range and format of products used in development of new housing areas. This is as part of a Council drive to improve the urban design of new housing areas and it is supported by the requirements of Scottish Planning Policy and Advice and other UK Government publications.

An implementation note for the DSNHA will follow to establish the information expected from applicants in support of applications for planning permission. The Council will aim to consider the design principles proposed for planning permission and road construction consent jointly. The implementation note will accompany the existing notes for guidance for planning applications to ensure applicants provide adequate information to allow the Council to make a proper assessment of planning and transportation matters. The implementation note will also be available on this webpage in due course, and on request from the Planning Reception at John Muir House, Haddington.

To bring both the planning and transportation consent regimes in line with one another the Standards for Development Roads document has been reviewed. This review has incorporated the revised standards and accommodates the implications of the Design Standards for New Housing Areas. For the avoidance of doubt, proposals consistent with the requirements of the Design Standards for New Housing Areas will be capable of obtaining Road Construction Consent.

Please click on the link to the right to view the Design Standards for New Housing Areas in a PDF format.