Trafford seeks feedback on design code
The guide proposes a concise set of requirements to inform developments in the borough through a “landscape and place-led approach”, according to the draft document.
Trafford Council’s executive approved the draft design code at its meeting last Monday and is now holding a public consultation on the document. The consultation will run until 25 September.
The guide sets out principles for designing houses, apartments, tall buildings, and commercial properties, as well as public realm.
Following a place-led approach, the code requires developers to demonstrate how their designs have been influenced by the surrounding context and how they enhance surroundings.
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s executive member for economy and regeneration, said: “The design of our homes, streets, and town centres has a big impact on people’s lives.
“The Trafford Design Code has been drawn up to ensure future buildings and developments in our borough are of the highest quality design.”
Proposals for the public realm should include safe active travel routes, trees and planting, on-street parking, street furniture, and play areas.
Pitched roofs are preferred for houses, along with porches, to avoid monotonous design.
For apartment buildings, the design code highlights that communal spaces, well-defined entrances, and active frontages should be considered to bring the community together.
Commercial properties and tall buildings, classed as those over six storeys, should be spaced apart and enhance views, the code states. These buildings should also provide natural and designed landscapes, open spaces, and planting to soften the landscape.
Production of the code follows Trafford Council’s award of £160,000 by the Office for Place last year. Along with 24 other councils, the local authority was asked to produce a model design guide that other councils around the country could draw on.
Trafford Council’s draft document has been shaped by a number of community and stakeholder consultation events and workshops, with public consultations held last September and November.
Another round of consultation and developer forums are planned to launch next month, as well as further residents’ drop-in sessions in September.
Cllr Patel said: “The Trafford Design Code sets the standards of what we want to see in terms of the design of new places and buildings.
“It puts people at the heart of design decisions and will have a positive impact in our neighbourhoods for years to come.”
Good for them sounds like a solid, simple and reasonable expectation
By H
Kudos to Trafford for this. When you wonder around Altrincham, it’s clear how the urban restitching and improved public realm is making the town a lot more attractive. And that was before the Design Code.
By SW
Just one example – preference for pitched roofs – yeah fine, but knowing Trafford’s approach this will preclude ANY flat roofed buildings/extensions. The biggest problem with Trafford (and for designers in the region) is that it’s predominantly an urban jurisdiction with a council of planners with outdated suburban sensibilities. The code is just another crutch hoicked into place for the lack of any real design understanding or progressive thinking within the council or planning committee. (Which, granted, isn’t just a Trafford problem…)
By Anonymous
Nothing of scale will be built in Trafford h too there is a change of planning leadership, wholly unreasonable people and that view is shared by almost all in the built environment active in this borough.
By Done