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Environment 

Design

The role of the team is to raise the urban design quality of new development within South Oxfordshire by reinforcing its unique diversity and enhancing its image.

Urban Design takes a holistic approach to designing places for people.  By applying the seven key objectives of Urban Design, namely:

  • Character
  • Continuity and Enclosure
  • Quality of Public Realm
  • Ease of Movement
  • Legibility
  • Adaptability
  • Diversity.

We can help to improve the quality of developments that succeed economically, socially and environmentally, thereby helping to improve the quality of people's lives.

The successful combination of a high quality of public realm with architecture, highways, landscape, trees and heritage are vital if we are to create opportunities for community development and social interaction within safe and secure environments.

Urban Design seeks to work closely with local communities and interest groups and across professions to create places of distinction that we can be proud of.

South Oxfordshire Design Guide

Our design guide (South Oxfordshire Design Guide) will assist you in developing your proposals and we strongly suggest that you produce a design statement having followed its principles (Design Statements: Guidance notes for applicants and agents).   A Design and Access Statement is now a requirement for many categories of planning and listed building applications.