Both local and national planning policy recognise the importance of good design as an essential element to securing sustainable development.

Good design should be a priority for everyone involved in shaping and maintaining the built and natural environment. Understanding and responding to character and local distinctiveness is essential to the delivery of successful development proposals.

The Council's Design Guide (PDF) should be used by developers to help shape high quality development throughout the District.

The Council will promote and push for higher quality design standards throughout the District, and for larger schemes it may be suggested to applicants that the proposals are put in front of the Cambridgeshire Quality Review Panel. More information is available in their Charter for Growth (PDF).