Draft Residential Amenity Space and Place Quality Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

What is the SPD?

The draft Residential Amenity Space and Place Quality SPD clarifies the borough’s expectations for well-designed places. It supports the Brent Local Plan’s objectives to ensure that new homes and neighbourhoods are designed to provide a high quality of life. 

Why is it needed?

Well-designed residential amenity space is a key factor in enriching people’s lives. It supports people’s physical and mental wellbeing, enables social connection, builds strong and integrated communities, encourages mixing between different ages and demographics, and nurtures a sense of belonging. Prioritising nature and green spaces in our neighbourhoods brings many benefits for both people and planet.

With the growing evidence and awareness of the significant effects of the built environment on people’s lives, this guidance will contribute to making Brent a healthy, happy, liveable, vibrant and inclusive place. It helps us set a new benchmark for “Place Quality” that can guide and shape future development in Brent, ensuring we are maximising opportunities for our residents through sustainable growth that is focused on what matters to people and communities.

How is the SPD structured?

There are six sections in this SPD:

·       Sections 1, 2 and 3 address principles and requirements relevant to all development in Brent;

·       Section 4 addresses minor development;

·       Section 5 sets out a new Place Quality Framework, for major and strategic development; and

·       Section 6 addresses specific typologies such as high-density development and Build to Rent.

Consultation details

The consultation will run for a period of 6 weeks from 16th February to 30th March 2023. Documents will be made available at Brent Council libraries.

Please fill in a response on this portal, alternatively responses can be sent to planningstrategy@brent.gov.uk or sent to: Paul Lewin, Planning Policy Team Leader, Brent Civic Centre, Engineer’s Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. Please note that the Council will not register anonymous responses. You should provide your name and if relevant, the organisation that you are working for, and that which you might be representing.

Area of coverage

The London Borough of Brent, with the exception of areas in which the Old Oak and Park Royal Mayoral Development Corporation is the Local Planning Authority.

Data protection

When reporting the consultation responses, organisation names will be referenced by the Council. However, no individual’s name or personal details of respondents will be made publicly available. Please can you indicate with your response whether you wish to be informed by the Council of whether the forum status is approved. Please also indicate if you would like to be informed of other planning policy consultations by having your details put on our planning policy consultation database. This information will only be used in relation to consultations on the Council’s planning and associated documents. Unless you indicate that you want to be put on this database, your personal details will only be kept until the Council makes a decision on whether to proceed with the approval of the forum or not and has subsequently issued the appropriate notifications. Please see our privacy policy for more details.