Draft Staples Corner Design Code – Consultation Drop-in Session

What is the Design Code?

The draft Staples Corner Design Code sets out the council’s expectations for high quality design and placeshaping within and around the Staples Corner Growth Area, as defined in the Brent Local Plan 2019-2041.

Why is it needed?

Recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) have sought to give design coding a greater role in the planning system. Published in 2021, the National Model Design Code provides detailed guidance on the production of design codes, guides and policies to promote successful design.

Alongside the emerging Staples Corner Masterplan, the Design Code expands on Policy BEGA2A of the Brent Local Plan to underpin decision-making for council officers and give developers, occupants and adjacent communities greater certainty about what may be acceptable when seeking planning permission.

How is the Design Code structured?

There are seven sections in this draft Design Code:

• Section 1 provides an introduction setting out what a design code is, who the design code is for, where it applies, and how it is structured and to be used.
• Section 2 sets out the existing context of Staples Corner.
• Section 3 sets out the vision for Staples Corner as developed collaboratively between the council and a group of local stakeholders.
• Section 4 describes the coding plan and how the design code relates to the emerging masterplan.
• Sections 5, 6 and 7 form the three parts of the design code addressing each of the following: area-wide design codes, street-focussed design codes, and place-focussed design codes.

Consultation details

The consultation will run for a period of eight weeks from 24th August to 19th October 2023. Documents will be made available at Brent Council libraries.

Please submit a response via this portal. Alternatively, responses can be sent to planningstrategy@brent.gov.uk or to: John Stiles, Principal Urban Design Officer, Brent Council, Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ.

Please note that the council will not register anonymous responses. You should provide your name and, if relevant, the name of the organisation that you are working for, and that which you may be representing.

Area of coverage

The London Borough of Brent, specifically the Staples Corner Growth Area and some areas on its periphery.

Data protection

When reporting the consultation responses, organisation names will be referenced by the council. However, no individual’s name or personal details of respondents will be made publicly available. Please can you indicate with your response whether you wish to be informed by the council of whether this document is adopted.

Please also indicate if you would like to be informed of other planning policy consultations by having your details put on our planning policy consultation database. This information will only be used in relation to consultations on the council’s planning and associated documents. Unless you indicate that you want to be put on this database, your personal details will only be kept until the council makes a decision on whether to proceed with the adoption of the Design Code or not and has subsequently issued the appropriate notifications. Please see our privacy policy for more details.