Design Codes: Lessons for London

Wednesday 23 April 2025

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Esther Kurland

Director
Urban Design Learning

Andy von Bradsky

Director
vBE

Sharon Giffen

Head of Design
The Earls Court Development Company

Matthew Morgan

Director and Co-Founder
Quality of Life Foundation

John Stiles

Placemaking Manager
London Borough of Brent

Katja Stille

Director
Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design

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In 2021, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) highlighted the need for local planning authorities to establish design codes. These codes outline and illustrate the parameters for physical development of a site or area according to local context. This helps streamline development and ensure the delivery of high-quality, well-designed places. The expedited planning process as a result of design codes makes them a continued priority for the new Labour government with their ambition to deliver 1.5 million homes by 2029.

However, it was left unclear in the NPPF who would create these design codes and what scale of area they would cover leaving little guidance on design code production. The National Model Design Code was created in response to these uncertainties as a detailed guide on how to produce successful design codes. With this resource, there is now a growing opportunity for architects and developers to collaborate with local authorities and communities on shaping design in the planning process by aiding in design code production.

The Earls Court Design Code, led by The Earls Court Development Company, in collaboration with Hawkins\Brown, Studio Egret West and with input from the community, and the Staples Corner design code by Brent Council with help from RCKa, 5th Studio and The Sortition Foundation are two examples that can serve as a reference point future design code production standards. In this Breakfast Talk, we heard from those involved with the creation of these codes who shared the lessons they’ve learned on design code production and how design codes can effectively contribute to building well-designed places.