What is a Village Design Statement

Their origin and purpose

The Countryside Agency originally devised Village Design Statements (VDS) as a method for improving the quality of new buildings and developments in the countryside and to ensure they took in to account the character of the area in which they occur.

Since their inception in 1996, they have proved to be of much greater value. VDS provide a framework for local people to collectively determine how their community should develop and grow and how such developments can be in keeping with the local surroundings.

VDS also help developers to understand local views and perceptions enabling them to propose new buildings that will probably gain local support rather than generate conflict and opposition.

Village Design Statements provide a tool to help manage long-term change, not to prevent it.

Their role in the Planning Process

What developments should take place in a particular area or village, and the scale of those developments, is covered by the Local Plan and are decided by the local planning authority. The VDS describes how these planned developments should be implemented, what special local factors they must consider and how they can contribute to the conservation and, where possible, enhancement, of the local environment.

Village Design Statements influence the planning process for the benefit of the community.

How they are produced

Village Design Statements are researched, developed, written and edited by local people within the guidelines laid down by the Countryside Agency. The process is often led by the parish council, drawing on local expertise and assisted by the local authority. The latter s most important if the VDS is to be fully supported by the local authority and accepted as supplementary planning guidance. The VDS is reviewed and up dated on a regular basis. Incorporating the ever changing needs of rural communities.

Village Design Statements are produced through a consultative process and represent the collective view.

Their scope

VDS cover all forms and scale of development. They provide much greater detail than the Local Plan and provide supplementary planning guidance for developers and residents planning changes to their properties. They also allow matters that are only of local importance to be included in the planning process.

Village Design Statements provide supplementary guidance to help manage the process of change.

What they contain

The VDS describes the character of a village and gives guidelines for the conservation of that character. It records what local people value about their home environment, so this can be considered when any changes take place. The VDS is divided into the following sections:

A description of the character of the village

The history of the village

The geographical setting of the village

Population, employment and future changes

Pressures for development

The landscape and setting of the village

Residential areas with in the village

Green areas, open spaces and recreation

The natural environment

Local housing and building styles

Access, roads and foot paths

Each of these sections includes a statement describing the current situation and then sets out the guidelines and context for future developments.

Examples of Village Design Statements

Many villages and communities have prepared Village Design Statements, Cottenham near Cambridge was the first and is often used as an exemplar. Many villages have published their VDS on the internet, links to a few are listed below. Some of the documents are very large and slow to load. The Appleby Magna VDS is a worth reading as a good example of a VDS.

Abbotts Ann, Hampshire

Appleby Magna, Leicestersire

Long Itchington, Warwickshire

Ravensthorpe, Daventry

West Lancashire

Wye, Ashford, Kent

More Information

For more information on Village Design Statements and to obtain a copy of the information pack, go to the Countryside Agency web site by clicking here.

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