The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has appointed consultants LDA Design to research how design codes in England can help the Government achieve its net-zero targets and tackle the ongoing ecological emergency.
The project is being conducted in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and will look at how design codes can secure "transformative change" in the built environment's contribution to reaching net-zero targets and promoting nature recovery.
LDA Design will consider how to produce design codes that:
LDA Design will work with ecology consultants BSG Ecology and technology firm City Science to produce two design codes based on fictional towns. The codes will cover net-zero and nature recovery and be in line with Government guidance on design for site specific and district-wide development.
RTPI Head of Policy Richard Blyth said: "At a time when the world finds itself in the midst of a climate and ecological emergency, and with the UK hosting COP26 this year, planning can be a force for good".
"With the UK Government setting ambitious targets to bring net emissions to zero by 2050 the way we design our towns and cities must align with these goals".
"With this research we want to contribute new ideas about how design codes can be used specifically to address the issues around climate change, energy efficiency and ecology".
The project will build upon the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code in England, incorporate best practice and signpost how codes can be cost effective and clearly used.
The research comes amid Government proposals to overhaul England's planning system, including shifting to a zonal planning system with areas designated as growth, renewal or protected.
Blyth commented that in a zonal planning system, design codes would have to do the hard work, and that "the RTPI has commissioned this work to explore how the wider issues around planning could be delivered by codes".
