Principles of good design

CABE - The Value of Urban Design

The Value of Urban Design 2001 CABE and DETR (PDF)

CABE - The Value of Good Design

The Value of Good Design - 2002 aims to draw together key research from the UK and abroad to show that investment in good design generates economic and social value. (PDF)

English Partnerships/ Housing Corporation - Urban Design Compendium

The Urban Design Compendium - 2000 examines the factors that make neighbourhoods stimulating and active places in which residents feel comfortable and safe. It aims to provide advice on the achievement and assessment of the quality of urban design. Produced by Llewelyn-Davies’. Urban Design Compendium 2: Delivering Quality Places provides guidance on the processes which support delivery of successful, sustainable development. Contains a range of case studies and guidance text. Published September 2007.

CABE - By Design. Urban design in the planning system: towards better practice

By Design. Urban design in the planning system: towards better practice - 2000. A guide that aims to help encourage better design and is intended as a companion to Planning Policy Guidance. The guide is relevant to all aspects of the built environment, including the design of buildings and spaces, landscapes and transport systems. (PDF)

English Partnerships - Best practice in Urban Design

Key principles of urban design from the Urban Design Compendium; The value of urban design; Design Codes; Inclusive Design

Communities and Local Government – Sustainable Urban Design 

Information on Communities and Local Government approach on the importance of good design that ensures economically viable places and spaces that are resource efficient, adaptable, durable, inclusive and fit for purpose. 

Communities and Local Government – Place Matters 

Sets out Communities and Local Government's role in the management of place, including the nature and implications of a place focused approach for the Department; why place is important; and how we are changing some of the ways we do business to make ourselves better able to support a focus on place. January 2007 

English Partnerships – Quality Standards – Delivering Quality Places

English Partnerships is committed to creating quality places. To achieve this, they have adopted a set of national standards to help developers meet their expectations. Revised November 2007. (PDF)

CABE Publications - Masterplans 

Creating Successful Masterplans 2004 An in depth guide to creating a ‘Master Plan’, which is a long term, large scale development or re-development for a Town of City. (PDF)

CABE Publications – Design Codes

The Use of Urban Design Codes 2003 introduce some of the issues relating to the use of design codes. (PDF)

Design Coding: Testing its use in England 2005 written by CABE in partnership with ODPM and English Partnerships, sets out interim findings from a study examining the effectiveness of coding as a tool to deliver better quality housing developments. (PDF)

Communities and Local Government – Preparing Design Codes – A Practice Manual

Communities and Local Government, working in partnership with CABE, have commissioned this practice guide to form the basis for a clear understanding of the role of design codes and to provide direction for those who will use them. The guide sets out the appropriate circumstances for the use of codes, how they should be written, adopted and managed, and the necessary inputs in terms of skills and resources to ensure successful outcomes. November 2006. Preparing Design Codes - A Practice Manual 

CABE Publications – Design Review

How to do design review: Creating and running a successful panel – July 2006 based on CABE's own experience of design review panels - small groups of leading professionals offering detailed design advice. It offers tips on setting up a new panel, its day-to-day operation and on how to get the very best from the expertise available to help achieve improvements in the quality of the built environment. (PDF)

Design review: How CABE evaluates quality in architecture and urban design – second edition, July 2006 explains how CABE’s design review panel of industry experts assesses good design in architecture, urban design and public space. It provides guidance on evaluating schemes, from site planning through to the final project, and considers such issues as procurement and the role of the planning system. (PDF)

CABE Publications – Design and Access Statements

Design and access statements: how to write, read and use them June 2006. This short guide shows how to write and read design and access statements. It accompanies the government circular Guidance on changes to the development control system. (PDF)

CABE Publications – Design Champions

Design Champions (Housebuilders) 2006 (PDF)

Local Leadership for Better Public Spaces 2004 (PDF)

The Councillor’s Guide to Urban Design 2003 (PDF)

Local Authority Design Champions 2004 (PDF)

Construction Industry Council – Design Quality Indicators

The Design Quality Indicator (DQI) is a process for evaluating design quality of buildings and can be used to contribute to improving the quality of our built environment.

DQI Brochure: introduction to the DQI process, and toolkit (PDF)

RIBA – Design Competitions

Advice on running design competitions