Guidance

National Model Design Code: Phase 2 pilots - FAQs

Published 20 July 2021

Applies to England

Submitting an expression of interest

What is the expression of interest process?

We invite interested local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups to fill in a short expression of interest form, which can be accessed through this link. There are 18 short questions, with 4 slightly longer questions at the end of the form, answers to which should be no longer than 200 words. The deadline for applying is 5pm on 13th September.

Shortlisted bidders may be invited to an interview and / or be asked to share additional information with us based on their submission. We will then work with those who have been selected to co-design a process and detailed proposal.

Who can submit an expression of interest for the National Model Design Code Phase 2 pilots?

The Office for Place are seeking expressions of interest from up to 10 local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups. We are keen to work with local authorities from all tiers of local government, from combined authorities to counties, districts and parish councils.

Can we join with other neighbouring local authorities to make a joint submission?

Yes - we welcome submissions from individual authorities and those who would like to submit a joint bid.

Can consultants prepare the expression of interest for the National Model Design Code Phase 2 Pilots?

The expression of interest process for Phase 2 has been designed to be less resource intensive to complete. Applicants are welcome to work with consultants to submit an expression of interest (EOI), but the lead organisation has to be a local authority or neighbourhood planning group.

How do the Phase 2 pilots differ from the testing programme announced earlier in the year?

The aims of the National Model Design Code Phase 2 pilots are different to the testing programme. Where the testing programme was looking at testing the application of aspects of the National Model Design Code, the second phase is looking more specifically at producing an exemplar design code through a best practice process that other local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups can learn from.

Can we apply for the phase 2 pilots if we applied for the testing programme, and can we submit the same information we prepared for the testing programme?

We would welcome expressions of interest from local authorities, both those who were unsuccessful and successful, and neighbourhood planning groups who submitted an expression of interest for the testing programme earlier in the year.

The information we are asking for as part of the expression of interest for National Model Design Code Phase 2 pilots is different to the information requested for the testing programme. We do not recommend directly copying the information across, as the information will not respond directly to the questions we are asking in this EOI.

We want to produce a design code for XYZ context or site, is that the sort of proposal you will accept?

We can’t pre-judge the selection process by commenting on specific proposals, but we are interested in receiving expressions of interest from local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups who are looking to produce exemplar design codes which cover a wide range of scales, sites and contexts.

Are you looking for an area wide, area type or site specific design code?

All of the above, as we want to work with partners who will be developing design codes at a range of different scales, however if it is a site specific proposal we would expect it to be a large or strategic site.

Do we need to produce a design code in an area which will be redeveloped in the future i.e. a site which already has interest from a developer or is a strategic site in an emerging local plan?

The area chosen needs to be suitable for development or redevelopment. This is not always possible to evidence through allocation in a plan. The design code process enables those involved to develop a design code for an established place, such as a village, neighbourhood, or town centre as well as for a defined place, e.g. an area planned for growth or change.

In either case, we are interested in understanding how design codes will lead to tangible improvements in the built environment through the piloting process, enabling other places to learn from the process and resulting design code.

Does the authority or neighbourhood planning group need to have a specific area, area type, or development in mind when filling in the expression of interest, or would that be worked out with the Office for Place if selected?

We would expect local authorities or neighbourhood planning groups to have a specific area, area type or site in mind, with a view that the approach will be co-developed and evolved during conversations with the Office for Place.

We are interested in working with local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups to deliver a range of exemplary design codes that address a variety of contexts across England. Therefore, as part of the EOI process, we are keen to better understand your proposed context in which to pilot a design code within your local area, and questions within the form will enable you to set this out.

Do we need an explicit local policy in place to support the design code we propose to produce?

We would not want to restrict expressions of interests to those local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups who have a specific, existing local policy which supports the creation of a design code for a place or area.

However, we are interested in understanding how the developed design code would likely be used or adopted. Therefore, within section 3 of the EOI, there is a question on whether you plan to adopt the local design code produced. If it is to be adopted, you can refer to the wider policy context; if it is not planned to be adopted, you can explain how the design code will be used in practice.

Will the design code solely look at housing, or will it need to look at a number of different typologies?

We welcome expressions of interest from applicants who are considering housing only proposals, as well as those who would like to produce a design code for areas that include different typologies. We will be selecting pilots which cover a range of contexts and scales.

Working alongside the Office for Place

Is it possible to quantify how much officer time would be required if the bid was successful?

It is likely that officer time will depend on a number of factors, including the scale of the design codes produced at the end of the 12 month period and the use of external resources such as consultants.

We anticipate allocating a portion of the £1 million in a way which accounts for the level of resources required at local authority or neighbourhood planning group level, with successful groups working alongside the Office for Place to understand this.

What level of support can successful local authorities or neighbourhood planning groups expect to receive?

We are looking to evolve the offer of support from the Office for Place, depending on the requirements of each local authority and neighbourhood planning group. Level and nature of support offered by the Office for Place can be flexible, however we would expect it to include a number of workshops, critical friend support and advice, and the sharing of research outcomes and best practice guidance.

How do we establish what is provably popular among local communities?

We recognise that creating a local design code that will lead to provably popular development may be new to some local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups. That is why the Office for Place will work with those applicants who are successful to develop and test approaches to community engagement and design codes with demonstrable community support.

Would the design code need to be adopted policy by September 2022?

It is not a requirement for successful local authorities or neighbourhood planning groups to adopt this by September 2022, when the phase 2 programme officially ends, but we will, as a minimum, expect a draft design code to have been produced. We are interested in understanding whether you plan to adopt the local design code through the EOI, which indicates how you plan to use or implement the draft design code you produce during the piloting programme.

National Model Design Code testing programme

Can you give an idea of the balance of those who applied previously for the National Model Design Code testing programme? I.e. urban, rural, suburban.

The testing programme involves codes in urban, suburban and rural contexts, and we would like to see the same scope across the National Model Design Code Phase 2 pilots.

Will the workshops from the National Model Design Code testing programme be made available to local authorities who are not participating?

The workshops ran as part of the National Model Design Code testing programme have not been recorded to enable the local authorities within the testing programme to speak freely about any challenges they were facing. The Office for Place will consider whether similar workshops could be run for other local authorities who are not part of the testing programme.

Will the feedback and progress of the National Model Design Code testing programme be made available to a number of local authorities who are not participating?

We intend to share the lessons learned with the wider sector following the completion of the testing programme. We will consider whether there are any lessons learnt that we could share before that point.

Further FAQs

Can local authorities submit multiple expressions of interest?

The expression of interest form asks more general questions about the local authority applying such as questions around design expertise within the specific local authority, and the adoption of design codes which are produced. If an authority was to submit multiple bids, perhaps with one as part of a consortium, the information provided would be very similar, if not identical. Hence in the main, it makes sense for local authorities to submit one expression of interest per local authority, but to make clear in their responses under Section 3: Aspirations that they have multiple opportunities for design coding.

Can local authorities submit a brochure in aid of their application?

At this stage we are not requesting any additional information and any submitted will not form part of the assessment. At a later stage, we may request further information as part of the selection process.

Are you expecting bidders to provide an indicative timetable and cost estimate as part of their expression of interest?

We anticipate the programme being up to 12 months in duration and are therefore asking for a commitment that the exemplar design codes can be completed within this timeframe. We are not expecting bidders to provide further detail on the timetable or a cost estimate at this stage. These will be determined through the development of the full proposals with those applicants selected.

Are you expecting consultants to be already appointed at the expression of interest stage?

Consultants do not need to be appointed at the expression of interest stage. However, local authorities should be conscious of the time it may take to appoint consultants and the impact this may have on their programme.

As a local authority, what is the arrangement if we want to appoint external consultants, particularly for procurement?

The appointment of consultants is for local authorities to consider, through their own procurement processes. Applicants are welcome to work with consultants to submit an expression of interest, but the lead organisation should be a local authority or neighbourhood planning group.

The word count is quite limited - are bids very strict to this?

We are conscious of the time it may take for local authorities to respond to this expression of interest and are therefore encouraging bids to remain within the word count. We will approach applicants directly, if further information or clarification is required, and may request an informal interview with shortlisted applicants.

Do bidders have to provide evidence of local support?

We are not asking for evidence of local support at this expression of interest stage, but we are asking for applicants to make a commitment to working with their local community at an early stage of the process and to find ways to demonstrate that design standards have demonstrable support from the local community under Section 2 of the EOI form.

If a neighbourhood planning group has already started community consultation with the intention of producing a design code, would they be precluded from applying?

Local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups will not be precluded from applying if they have already started community consultation with the intention of producing a design code. However, proposals will ultimately be assessed against and have to meet the criteria as outlined in the expression of interest, including co-designing the design code process and detailed proposal with the Office for Place and following the coding process set out in the National Model Design Code.

Could a local authority tie this in with work on a supplementary planning document which will include design codes and principles?

Local authorities are welcome to link proposals for the Phase 2 pilots with work underway on planning documents or policies, however bids will ultimately be assessed against and have to meet the criteria as outlined in the expression of interest. Local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups can set out how they intend to achieve this in the question in Section 3 of the EOI form on adoption of the local design code.

Our area already has a comprehensive design guide in place which a number of local authorities use when determining planning applications. Does this pilot take account of existing multi-borough guidance and is there any scope to undertake a detailed locally specific exercise based on guidance which is already in place?

Design codes should work with existing policy and guidance. Therefore, there could be scope to undertake a design code within a defined area that is covered by wider design guidance.

If a neighbourhood planning group were interested in producing a code for their area, would the expectation be that they submit a bid independently or can the local authority make a bid to work jointly with a neighbourhood group?

Neighbourhood planning groups can either submit jointly with a local authority or independently. However we would expect neighbourhood planning groups who submit independently to work with their local authority to develop a programme that incorporates engagement with the local authority through the process.

If a neighbourhood planning group bids direct, do they get awarded the funding themselves or is it awarded to the local authority?

We will work with the applicant to work out the most effective and efficient funding solution which might be either directly funding a group or working with the group and their local authority to enable funding.

How quickly might bidders be selected, and then how quickly would funding be delivered?

Details surrounding the announcement of the successful bids will be shared following the review of the expressions of interest. This is anticipated to be towards the end of October. Following this we will work with local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups to develop proposals and to start allocating funding.

How are you defining large or strategic sites?

The design code could provide coverage for i) a large or strategic site, ii) a place (such as a whole neighbourhood, village, town or city centre) or iii) provide area wide coverage across an authority. What constitutes a large or strategic site would depend on local context and should be defined by the local authority or neighbourhood planning group.

The National Model Design Code refers to guides and codes, is production of a guide still relevant and supported or is the emphasis on codes?

Production of guidance is still very relevant, as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, however this pilot programme is specifically focussed on the production of exemplar design codes only.