| Thursday, 31 August 2006 | |
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MP calls for 'Design Champion' for Dartford Dartford MP, Dr Howard Stoate, has called for the appointment of a ‘design champion’ in Dartford. Responding to Dartford Borough Council’s consultation on the forthcoming Local Development Framework, the MP called for the appointment of a specific design champion within the council to work with potential developers in the borough.“In the last few years we have seen some good and innovative design in Dartford, but we have also seen some very poor design that does nothing to enhance the character or appearance of the area, or encourage people to move here or visit the area. Unfortunately some of the worst examples are in the most prominent locations in borough. We can’t afford to keep making these mistakes, especially in view of the high level of development that is being proposed in Dartford in the next twenty years,” said Dr Stoate. “I think that the skills of a design champion could play a pivotal role in helping the council, which is after all a small authority with limited resources, to meet the challenging design standards set out in the new development framework. It would certainly send out a very clear message that the council considers the quality of the built environment to be an issue of the highest importance. And it would also provide the council with a designated officer with the time and the authority to focus exclusively on the challenge of creating popular, sustainable and architecturally distinctive communities.” “Many other councils around the country after all have chosen to appoint a senior council officer or councillor as a design champion, or have engaged the services of an architect or design expert. And this has helped to focus the collective mind of the council on the importance of good design and raise the profile of design in the community.”
Notes
Current Government policy (PPS 1) states “Planning authorities should plan positively for the achievement of high quality and inclusive design for all development, including individual buildings, public and private spaces and wider area development schemes. Good design should contribute positively to making places better for people. Design which is inappropriate in its context, or which fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions, should not be accepted.” |
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© 2008 Dr Howard Stoate - Member of Parliament for Dartford
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