What is your project title?

Can the use of urban morphological analysis in design codes raise the quality of design in the Development Management process and address the lack of design knowledge in Local Planning Authorities?

Tell me about yourself:

I spent 20 years working as a Local Government Planner, most recently in planning policy. I hold Masters degrees in both Planning and Urban Design. My research interests focus on how Urban Design principles can be brought into the Planning system to create better places to live.

Tell me about your project:

The latest iterations of the National Planning Policy Framework place an emphasis on design codes and design guides. Whilst the direction of travel at national level is promising, more work needs to be done to implement this at a local level. There is an opportunity to alter local planning policy and upskill local government officers through the use of design codes and urban morphological analysis. Urban morphology methods within design coding could offer the opportunity to create simple and effective design codes. Upskilling local government officers and regulating better placemaking outcomes. This research will aim to understand how design can be better regulated in planning policy. Creating simple methods to enable Development Management officers to permit and achieve sustainable and healthy places. Focusing on enabling this through the use of urban morphological analysis in design coding.