Since 10th August 2006, it has become a legal requirement that planning applications are in most cases accompanied by a Design and Access Statement (DAS). These are now a material consideration for the Local Authority and the commitments made within them can be enforced through planning conditions or Legal Agreements. A DAS is one statement that must cover both design and access, allowing applicants to demonstrate an integrated approach that will deliver inclusive design and address a full range of access requirements throughout the design process.
The preparation of a DAS involves drawings, images and text and it must show how the applicant has considered and/or addressed the following:
- The physical, social, economic and planning policy context and show an understanding of these.
- Who has been consulted and their responses – Local Authority, local interest groups, others.
- Evaluation and analysis of information, constraints and opportunities and how the scheme responds to these.
- That the process has resulted in a proposed design that takes these things into account.
The design of a scheme is an important factor in a DAS and it must explain and justify how the scheme addresses the above and also justify the amount of development, scale, layout and appearance. This includes landscape and access components and also how specific site circumstances have been addressed.
Kirkby & Diamond’s experienced team can assist you by preparing your Design and Access Statement, either on its own or when working on your behalf to prepare and submit your whole planning application.