Design

The existing Hillingdon Local Plan sets out the council’s policy approach to: 

  • the design of new buildings and spaces
  • creating high quality, safe, inclusive and welcoming places for everyone
  • the location and design of tall buildings
  • alterations to existing buildings
  • crime prevention through urban design
  • the design of shopfronts and advertisements.

Existing approach 

A strategic objective of the Local Plan is to create sustainable neighbourhoods of high quality design, that have regard for their historic context and use, address environmental issues and which are sensitive and responsive to the significance of the historic character, are distinctive, safe, functional and accessible.  

Relevant existing development management policies include: 

  • Policy DMHB 11 seeks quality contextual design in all development
  • Policy DMHB 10 set out where tall buildings may be located and how they should be designed
  • Policy DMHB 12 relates to the design streets and the public realm
  • Policy DMHB 13 and 13A controls the design of shopfronts and advertisements
  • Policy DMHB 14 protects trees and seeks landscaping, trees, green roofs and walls in development
  • Policy DMHB 15 seeks to prevent crime through urban design measures
  • Policy DMHB 16 sets minimum housing standards and DMHB 17 requires that development considers the London Plan Residential Density Matrix
  • Policy DMHB 18 requires provision of private outdoor amenity space in new housing. 

Key challenges 

The new Local Plan needs to ensure good design in buildings and the public realm that is not only attractive, but also highly functional. This may include design that helps mitigate the effects of climate change, encourages active travel (walking and cycling), and is accessible, adaptable, healthy and safe. 

Key challenges to delivering high quality design in Hillingdon are thought to include: 

  • improving the design quality of new development
  • ensuring design responds to environmental issues including flooding, noise, urban heat island effect, and air pollution
  • exploring opportunities for new public realm and ensuring it is inclusive, and places can be accessed by all residents
  • proactively planning for appropriate tall buildings, while addressing local constraints such as context, airports and the desire for an interesting skyline
  • accommodating the desire to extend and alter properties, whilst ensuring harmful externalities are avoided, such as those related to loss of privacy, daylight, basements and urban greening 
  • creating streets which are pleasant, attractive, safe, healthy and which mitigate climate change impacts
  • ensuring development strengthens waterways such as canal edges and rivers
  • ensuring new development strengthens and integrates built heritage
  • creating distinct public places, where identity is inspired by local cultural heritage
  • taking account of emerging government design guidance, including the Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance.

What the new Local Plan could achieve 

A key commitment from the council strategy is for a green and sustainable borough, where Hillingdon will be a sustainable, carbon-neutral borough, protecting Hillingdon's heritage, built environment and valued green spaces. Residents will live in pleasant neighbourhoods with access to sustainable waste management and transport.

The Local Plan needs to focus on what is distinctive to Hillingdon, rather than restating generic principles of high-quality design which are already covered in national guidance. This means the need to address issues of local character and identity, area-specific townscape, landscape, heritage, or urban form priorities, and design responses to local constraints or opportunities.

The Local Plan could also consider mechanisms for ensuring the principles of good design are embedded, such as requirements around masterplanning and design codes, the use of design review processes and expectations around community engagement in design.

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