Introduction
The purpose of the Development Quality Charter is to achieve a new benchmark for high quality and sustainable development in Hertfordshire.
This is because the built environment is responsible for about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions, so one of the best things we can do is improve the construction, heating, cooling and powering of our homes and other buildings.
It is hoped that councils, council-owned development companies, housing associations, developers, landowners and others will voluntarily sign the Charter and commit to achieve the following pledges.
Design Pledges
- Developers must submit a design and access statement to demonstrate compliance with national and local planning policies, the National Model Design Code and local design codes.
- Major sites will submit a masterplan, which must be agreed in advance of or alongside a planning application.
- Major sites will be informed by community engagement and a design review panel as part of the pre-application and planning application process.
- Major sites must explain the long-term stewardship strategy for their development.
- Developers must incorporate environmental management systems, considerate construction, social value and construction skills development into their business models.
- All developments should achieve at least 10% biodiversity net gain for at least 30 years, in accordance with the DEFRA toolkit.
Sustainability Pledge
- Developers must identify a sustainability standard that exceeds minimum current building regulations as part of their planning application and then use an industry-recognised process to demonstrate compliance with that standard upon completion of their development.
The Sign Up Form can be found below which can be completed and returned to HertfordshireGrowthBoard@
