This Site is a project to give advice to designers and planners as to how to structure their design and access statement and what process they should follow in getting to the right solution. We would welcome your feedback.

The inclusion of a Design Statements is going to become a statutory obligation under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. In may 2006 this requirement was formalised and enhanced to incorporate access. This site aims to create discussion around the use of these statements, as well as promoting the need for high quality developments in the North East.

New development has the power to transform the North East by contributing to the economic, social and physical regeneration of the region. It can also go further than this by strengthening an area’s sense of place and in places like Middlehaven create a whole new identity.

We can visualise the impact that has been brought by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in terms of our perception of the Quayside and the number of postcards and calendars that depict this landmark. Gateshead Council are now delivering the Sage music venue and the public must now decide whether this building deserves the word iconic.

There have also been a number of smaller projects that have delivered a high standard of development. You may not notice them, but these buildings will have wonderful features and inspirational touches but are quite happy to blend into a certain character of the areas where they are located. In some instances, it may be appropriate for a building to ignore the pattern, materials and colours of the surrounding area in an attempt to change the character.

Whatever solution is reached for a development the project team should begin by examining the surroundings and the features of the site itself. They must, understand the character of the area, its weaknesses and strengths and become involved in discussions with locals to understand their own aspirations for the area.

The role of a Design and Access Statement is a structured approach to understand the complexities of a project and is a tool to enhance the communication from the design team. It examines the context to the development looking at the surroundings and also the policy environment. It then asks the design team to explain how they have reacted against the constraints of the site and incorporated the discussions with outside people such as the client, local people, and politicians.