Part 2: Design principles

2.9.1 The Quality Audit Process

Quality Audits are a three-stage process, echoing the stages of the Road Safety Audits. They are required for all developments with 50 dwellings or more, and may be necessary for smaller developments if particular design issues are identified.

The Quality Audit process should include a review of the pedestrian and cycle facilities within the site and how they link into the wider network to provide access to employment, education, healthcare and leisure destinations. This is to ensure that developments are not designed in isolation, but are connected successfully with the local community. The desire-lines of pedestrians and cyclists from all parts of the development should be considered. Access to public transport should be appraised to ensure good connections to neighbouring towns and regional centres. Particular attention should be paid to the experiences of people with mobility, visual and hearing impairments, and other disabilities.

Each stage of the Quality Audit should include the appropriate independent Road Safety Audit, providing a detailed and impartial appraisal of the proposed road network, including any alterations to existing roads. 

A typical Quality Audit includes the following elements:

• Review of how the development will be used and accessed by the community
• Inclusive access audit (walking and wheeling)
• Cycling audit
• Public transport audit
• Road Safety Audit

Stage 1 Quality Audit

The Stage 1 Quality Audit should be included in the Transport Assessment and submitted at an early stage in the Planning process. Reference should be made to the principles of Designing Streets and the SCOTS National Roads Development Guide. 

Following submission of the initial Quality Audit we may require changes to the development layout and design before we are in a position to support the Planning Application. Alternatively or additionally, we may recommend additional Planning Conditions and, where necessary, S75 contributions.

Stage 2 Quality Audit

A Stage 2 review of the Quality Audit will take place when a detailed planning application or an RCC application is made, and applicants should be aware that further changes to the layout and design features may be required as a result.

Stage 3 Quality Audit

Prior to the Adoption of the roads, the Quality Audit will be reviewed and the developer may be required to implement additional measures to resolve any issues which have become evident.

  Note: These webpages are for reference by developers of housing and employment sites in East Lothian. They provide guidance on transport infrastructure against which Planning Applications will be assessed and evaluated, and set out East Lothian Council's procedures regarding the construction and adoption of new roads in accordance with current legislation. These pages supersede all previous versions of our Standards for Development Roads document. 

Revisions 

01/07/2023 Document release 

29/08/2024 Update to text to emphasis the Quality Audit's focus on road safety and amenity, and the need for its recommendations to be acted upon   

19/02/2025 Clarified that a Stage 2 Quality Audit is required alongside a detailed planning application