This document discusses Community Right to Build Orders (CRtBO), which allow communities to undertake small-scale development without going through the normal planning application process. It provides guidance on determining if a CRtBO is suitable, preparing the order by understanding the local context and ensuring quality and deliverability, submitting the order, undergoing an independent examination and referendum, and considering housing standards and design. Key steps include preparing a development brief, submitting required documentation and statements, demonstrating the order meets basic conditions, and obtaining over 50% support in a referendum. Design is emphasized as important for place-making, movement, safety, and avoiding vague or over-prescriptive requirements.

1. Neighbourhood Planning
Community Right to Build Orders
Dave Chetwyn
Managing Director, Urban Vision Enterprise CIC
Planning Adviser, Locality
Chair, Historic Towns Forum
Vice Chair, National Planning Forum

2. Introduction

3. Neighbourhood Planning
Neighbourhood Development Plans
Neighbourhood Development Orders
Community Right to Build Orders

4. Is a CRtBO the Best Option?
Conventional planning application/appeal
Neighbourhood Development Order
Neighbourhood Plan (policy)
Planning context - discussion with LPA
Need to acquire land, capital, etc.
Financial restrictions e.g. disposal of assets

5. Getting Started

6. Neighbourhood Area

7. Qualifying Bodies
Town or Parish Council
Neighbourhood Forum
Community Organisation
Majority live in area
“social, economic & environmental well-being of residents

8. Preparing the CRtBO

9. Understanding Context
Environmental context (including designations)
Socio-economic context (including property market)
Identifying local issues
Site appraisal/constraints
Planning context
Urban/rural context
Infrastructure/capacity
Services

10. Building in Quality and Deliverability
Realistic budget
Select the right design team
Prepare a clear development brief
Look at exemplars elsewhere
Understand the importance of design
Don’t assume car ownership
Realistic funding bids
Think ahead

11. The Brief
Aims of your organisation
Purpose of the development
Functional requirements
Future occupants
Budget
Consultation requirements
Building performance
High quality, site-specific design
Skills and experience needed (track record)

12. Submitting the CRtBO

13. Submitting the CRtBO
Map of site
Definition of the development
(including supporting
documentation and plans).
Consultation statement.
Archaeology statement, if required.
Basic conditions statement.
Details of any enfranchisement
rights which it is proposed will not
be exercisable.

14. Independent Examination
Undertaken by an experienced and
qualified person …
Considers whether the order meets the
basic conditions.

15. The Basic Conditions
Have appropriate regard to national policy.
Contribute to the achievement of sustainable
development.
Be in general conformity with the strategic
policies in the development plan for the local
area.
Be compatible with EU obligations and
human rights.
Have regard to the protection and
enhancement of listed buildings and
conservation areas.

16. Referendum
28 days notice required
50% ‘Yes’ vote required

17. Housing Standards and Design

18. Why is Design Important?
Attracting investment and jobs
Attracting people to live and work
Accessibility and convenience
Fitness for purpose
Safer places
Sustainability
Quality of life
Low running costs

19. Community Engagement - Front Loading
Brief
Detailed Design
Late Consultation - Publish & Defend
Conflict, delay, cost
Community Engagement
Informed Design Brief
Creative Designer
Detailed Design
Engaged communities
Focus on place-making
Well-informed, creative design
Excluded communities
Focus on aesthetics
Design by committee

20. Things to Consider
Place-making (not quantifiable standards)
Ease of movement for pedestrians
Safe environments
Access to community facilities
Choice of modes of transport
Site specific design
External storage (e.g. cycle store)
Tenure blind

21. Things to Avoid
Focus on subjective issues like style
Vague phrases – ‘high quality design’
Focus on buildings, but not places
Over-reliance on quantifiable standards (65 square meter gardens)
Being over-prescriptive or suppressing creative design solutions
Imposing your own preferences rather than catering for diversity
Undermining viability through onerous requirements

22. Building for Life 12
1. Connections
2. Facilities & Services
3. Public Transport
4. Meeting local housing requirements
5. Character
6. Working with the site and context
7. Creating well defined streets and spaces
8. Easy to find your way around
9. Streets for all
10.Car parking
11.Public and private spaces
12.External storage and amenity space

23. Permeability
Drawings taken from Responsive Environments

24. Perimeter Blocks

25. Active Frontages

26. Legible Design

27. Off-the-Peg, Anywhere Design

28. Inactive Frontages

29. Poor Legibility

30. Building Performance
Lighting and
Appliances
Air Tightness
Insulation
Walls,
roofing,
glazing
Daylight
Heating
Micro-Generation
Maintenance
BehaviourWater Use

31. Embodied Energy and Durability

32. Lifetime Costs
Construction
Running costs
Maintenance