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Application form
Please make sure you have read all the notes carefully before you start to fill in the application form. This application form can either be completed by hand or electronically - it is available on the Planning homepage at www.scotland.gov.uk/planning. Please complete all five sections. The deadline for submitting applications is 8 September 2006. An acknowledgement letter will be sent to the person who has completed this form.
1 Please provide a name and contact details of the lead organisation responsible for this work.
Name | Angus Gilmour |
Job title | Head of Planning Services |
Organisation | Argyll and Bute Council |
Address | Kilmory, Lochgilphead, PA31 8RT |
Telephone | 01546 604288 |
Fax | 01546 604237 |
Email | Angus.gilmour@argyll-bute.gov.uk |
2 If this is a joint application, please list the other partners who had a key role. You should also inform your partners that you are nominating the project for an award.
1 Anderson Bell Christie | 2 Scottish National Heritage |
3 | 4 |
5 | 6 |
3 Tick the category of nomination
Title of entry | Argyll and Bute Councils Sustainable Design Guidance |
Please complete the form on the following pages by providing a brief summary of the piece of work you have entered. You must also conclude with a key reason as to why you think this work merits an Award. Only the two A4 pages supplied here can be used and your text must fit within the boxes. The font size should be no less than 12pt.
The judging criteria are set out below. Please tick only the key criteria relevant to your entry:
You must describe, in your written submission, how the criteria which you have ticked relate to your project.
Description of project
New sustainable design guidance for the varying scales of new housing development within Argyll and Bute. The overall aim is to raise the quality of and excellence in architecture and design, ensuring that sustainability is at the heart of each design solution. The guidance has been split into 4 topic sections: Small Scale Housing Development, Larger Housing Development, Working with our Built Heritage and Case Studies. Each is published as stand-alone guidance with a concurring theme of sustainable design. Each explains the planning design process, provides an action check list and details the principles of quality design & sustainable development within the area. They seek to lead by example by providing examples of "real life" illustrations of sustainable and innovative design. |
Context - describe the background to the project
The Council's original design guidance is over 10 years old and doesn't take account of the variety of new governmental policy and guidance and the drive towards sustainable building design, energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies. There is a significant amount of new building being undertaken within the area and our own growth agenda requires clear guidance on the design and building process for all those involved. We wish to encourage the use of local materials, the development of sustainable building practices, energy efficiency measures, renewable energy technologies, self-build opportunities and affordable housing all being important considerations particularly in our remote and isolated mainland and island communities where building and energy costs are high |
What are the aims and objectives of the project?
To produce practical guidance that promotes good quality, sustainable and contemporary building design suited to our distinctive and diverse landscapes, towns & villages. Encourage greater interest in sustainable design solutions and community involvement in the local built environment leading to best use of local materials and labour skills, improve the local economy and enhance the areas natural & cultural heritage and create sustainable communities. To develop a design framework for design decisions and to encourage discussion between those involved in the design process. Highlight opportunities for incorporating energy efficiency, sustainable building techniques and renewable technologies. To demonstrate sustainable design solutions and to boost good practice. |
Timescale - over what timescale has the project been developed?
In the early part of 2004 Argyll and Bute Council decided to review their existing design guidance, the majority of which had been produced between 1985 and 1991, in order to bring design and design guidance forward into the 21 st Century. The consultants Anderson, Bell Christie were appointed in December 2004 to assist in this. During the early part of 2005 a consultation document was produced and posted on the web site, a total of five workshops were held and a press release issued inviting views and comments. The results of the workshops were posted on the web site and following on from this in the early part of 2006 a draft document was produced for consultation over a six week period. The finalised document was completed and adopted in September of this year after consideration by the Council. |
Action - explain the process and action taken
The Council consulted with as many of those involved in the design process as possible. A total of 5 community consultation workshops where held throughout the area. The key target groups, members of the public and key stakeholders were asked to identifying what they felt to be the specific issues relating to design. The results were posted on the web site for information and comment. A design consultation document on the key issues was produced and posted on the Councils web site to allow those who could not attend the workshops to comment. Presentations were also made to all the local Councillors and comments sought. Draft design guidance was also produced for comment. Account was taken of relevant national and local policy and guidance and examples of good practice. |
Explain the role of the key partners
This project has been part funded by Scottish Natural Heritage and WHELK Leader+ and the consultants Anderson Bell Christie were appointed to develop the guidance. Scottish Natural Heritage has inputted into the design guidance process and we are also working with them to produce specific detailed design guidance for the Islands of Tiree, Coll and the National Scenic Area on Mull. When completed these will form a more detailed layer to this overarching design guidance. Anderson Bell Christie has brought a wealth of experience in sustainable and innovative design to the process as well as their experienced in working with communities and stakeholders in a workshop setting. |
Results - what results were achieved?
Four separate sustainable design guidance documents broken into 4 topics. Topic 1 deals with single and small scale development and is tailored to those individuals new to the development process. Topic 2 is geared towards the developer creating a larger scale development. Topic 3 deals with the areas built heritage. The need for exemplar case studies was raised at the community consultation events and this is reflected in Topic 4. An Action Plan has been drawn up prioritising and allocating actions to be undertaken in the next 12 months, ensuring that the Guidance becomes an active user friendly document which will influence the quality of new design. An annual audit will be carried out to determine its success, based upon returned questionnaires issued to applicants with their consent notice. The annual design award process will be audited to determine if the quality of sustainable design has improved. Stakeholder workshops will also be used to assess success. |
Conclusion - in summary, why does this piece of work merit an Award?
The new sustainable design guidance represents a holistic approach to the design process within Argyll and Bute. It specifically seeks to provide guidance on the opportunities to incorporate sustainable building practices through encouraging the use of energy efficiency measures & renewable energy technologies to secure sustainable communities and the areas sustainable growth. It reflects partnership working and real community engagement on the ground and has been developed based on a bottom up approach. It takes individuals and developers through the design process by means of a simple flow diagram and an action check list within the document. The action check list will also become part of the planning application form. The Action Plan including the annual audit is key to ensuring success. |
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