Your design criteria and best practice guides to help us build a better Nottingham.

NOTE: “Development that is not well designed should be refused, especially where it fails to reflect local design policies and government guidance on design, taking into account any local design guidance and supplementary planning documents such as design guides and codes.” (NPPF 12.139).

The Design Quality Framework (DQF) is a series of Design Coding Criteria, Best Practice Guides and upfront information to help you make better design choices for your building project and to meet Nottingham City Council planning requirements more easily. The framework is In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the National Design Guide.

The guides are applicable to all kinds of schemes, from small scale domestic projects through to large scale commercial developments.

Nottingham City Council believes places are made for all, by all and therefore strongly advises applicants to engage with local communities, residents and stakeholders as per the Community Engagement Criteria criteria. Working in collaboration results in stronger schemes and smoother planning processes.

What the DQF is for

This Design Quality Framework aims to address design quality issues by giving applicants and designers information and certainty at an early stage during the planning process to help them create exemplar places where the citizens of Nottingham want to live.

The DQF adopts the following principles

Active Design

Building for a Healthy Life

Building with Nature

Child Friendly City

Creating Age Friendly Cities

Design for Security

Green Infrastructure Framework

Manual for Streets

Nationally Described Space Standards (adopted via our Local Plan)

The Principles of Inclusive Design

What the DQF does

Reflects national, regional and local policy.
Sets ambitions and expectations for design quality.
Establishes thresholds for design quality.
Provides strong guidance for design quality from feasibility stage through to post-occupancy.
Secures the delivery of social value through the application of the Co-PLACE ethos.
Aims to balance the three spheres of sustainable development: economic, environmental and social sustainability through the planning process.
Reinforces the importance of place psychology, drawing from latest academic research on how design can influence human behaviours.

What the DQF cannot do

Ignore adopted plans, frameworks and other legislation.
Limit design freedom and innovation.
Assume compromises in quality can be achieved on the basis of financial viability or economic gains.