A Design and Access Statement is a document used to explain and illustrate the principles and concept behind the design and layout of your proposed development and should be submitted with your planning application. Relevant to both large and small-scale developments they are particularly important in demonstrating how a proposal relates both to the site and its wider context, the surrounding area and examine how access has been dealt with.

The statement must also demonstrate how inclusive access requirements have been met. That is, how everyone can get to and move through the place on equal terms regardless of age, disability, ethnicity or social grouping.

The existence of a Design and Access Statement does not guarantee planning permission. It supports a planning application - it does not replace it.

A Design and Access Statement will help the local planning authority, prospective funder/s (i.e. One NorthEast - more information), neighbours, the general public and you to:

• Consider your proposals against urban design principles and policies in the Local Plan/Unitary Development Plan/Local Development Framework and other relevant documents i.e. site development/design briefs.
• Fully understand the design principles of your proposals.
• Realise how your development will fit into and/or enhance the area.
• Discuss the design of your proposals in a structured, more productive way.
• Decide whether your proposal is likely to be acceptable.
• Consider the access needs of a range of users.

A Design and Access Statement helps ensure that the main issues influencing your design are explained in a clearer, structured and visual way. This makes it easier for people who need to be consulted to understand the thinking behind your chosen design. It helps in assessing your proposals more quickly and reduces the need for often costly and time consuming redesigns.

A statement sets out the principles on which a development is based and explains the design solution

The steps in preparing a Design and Access Statement correspond to those involved in going through the proper design process. It is work you would normally carry out in the process of deciding on a design for your proposals before submitting a planning application. The only difference is that you are expected to formally record these steps and explain the results so it is clear to others. A Design and Access Statement is not simply a justification for a pre-determined design solution.

There are several essential steps in the design process which should be mirrored in the production of a Design and Access Statement: These are the description of the design context, identifiable of design principles and the check in of design solution. The graphic illustrates these steps and the actions required to undertake them.

Once all the steps have been completed, the design and access statement can be assembled, bringing together all the thinking on the design issues.

The size and complexity of a Statement will reflect the type and scale of development proposed and the particular circumstances and sensitivities of your site and the surrounding area. For most applications, the Design and Access Statement need not be elaborate. It can be on one or two pages, in a small booklet, an A4 or A3 document, a fold-out sheet, a display board or a CD ROM. Irrespective of the scale of development, the Design and Access Statement must however be supported by good graphics which may include:

• Explanatory plans and elevations. These should extend some way beyond your site’s boundaries in order to show the relationship of the proposal to its surroundings.
• Photographs of your site and its surroundings.
• Perspective drawings and annotated sketches.
• If the site is particularly complex then it may be helpful to produce three-dimensional drawings or an architectural scale model.

Click here for example graphics

The Design Statement Tool and Prompts provide guidance on the basic structure and content of the document making it is easier to compile and read.

Use the step-by-step toolkit to guide you through the process of producing a Design and Access Statement.

It is important to check, before design work is started, that the principle of the proposed use of the site is compatible with the policies and proposals contained within the local authority’s Local Plan/Unitary Development Plan/Local Development Framework, and guidance in other Supplementary Guidance. Pre-application discussions are critically important. Speak to a member of the local authority’s Development Control team who will assist in this regard and will confirm the main issues you should be addressing in your Statement.