Introduction

London Borough of Bexley (the Council) has produced a series of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) to provide design guidance and support to applicants, decision makers and developers for new development across the borough.

As demonstrated by Fig.01 opposite, the guidance supports the Development Plan which comprises the Bexley Local Plan and the London Plan. The SPDs demonstrate how policies within these statutory documents can be met and the guidance documents should also be read in conjunction with national and regional design guidance on placemaking, such as the National Design Guide.

Overarching design guidance, which applies across all types of development, is provided in the Design Guide SPD Part 1 - Design Principles. This should be read in conjunction with the guidance provided in Part 2 of the Design Guide SPD, which focuses on specific areas of development and comprises four documents which complement, and are structured around, the Design Principles.

Once adopted, the Design Guide SPD Part 2 will also be a material consideration in determining planning applications. As such, proposals should conform with the guidance provided to achieve the best outcomes at determination.

This new guidance will replace the following Bexley planning guidance: Design and Development Control Guidelines SPD, Crayford Residential Design Code, Crayford Town Centre Design and Identity Guide, and the Sustainable Design and Construction SPD.

The production of this document has followed best practice and been informed by a robust local evidence base. The guidance has been shaped through engagement with stakeholders and will be further informed by the public consultation process.

It should be noted that during the preparation of the Design Guide SPD Part 2, the government published its draft NPPF. Once the final version of the new NPPF is published, it takes precedence should any conflicts arise between the two documents.

How to use this guide

The Design Guide SPD is separated into several distinct documents that will be developed and consulted upon in phases. The Design Principles, is the first part of the Design Guide SPD to be adopted and applies across all types of development in Bexley to ensure consistency and quality. This will be supplemented by additional guidance specific to certain types of development, including:

• Small Sites - sites below 0.25 hectares
• Building Alterations - extensions and alterations to existing residential and non-residential buildings
• Area Types - common and emerging development types in Bexley e.g. industrial sites
• Site Design Codes - design guidance for areas undergoing significant change (these will be provided as part of the new Local Plan for Bexley)

The documents are colour-coded to aid navigation and each section of design advice is given a sequential number for ease of reference. Design Principles are given the prefix D, Small site codes will be given the prefix S, Building Alterations codes B, and Area Types A. The prefix for the Site Design Codes will be based upon the name of the relevant area.

These documents are supported by this Technical Handbook which contains detailed specialist information and standards required for certain planning applications, including highways, waste, biodiversity and ecology.

Each chapter provides guidance which either use the words must, should, or could. These indicate the strength of the guidance and whether is it required to meet adopted policy or suggestive - see Fig.03. This guidance is supported by the use of numbered figures including diagrams, example projects, tables, and maps to illustrate the text.

Where underlined, highlighted text is used, this is a link to external resources. Where italic text is used, this word or phrase is a technical term and is included in the Glossary. Highlighted text indicates a link to information elsewhere in the document. Highlighted, italic text is used for numbered figures.