Wychavon Design Code Consultation

The Wychavon Design Code is not just general guidance. It sets out requirements developers will be expected to follow when they design new schemes.

It works like an instruction manual. It explains what needs to be considered when planning a site. This includes, amongst other things, how buildings and streets should be arranged, how green space should be included, and how new development should relate to what is already there.

The code uses clear wording such as must and should. This means these are not optional ideas. They are standards that will be taken into account when planning applications are assessed.

Our aim is to achieve consistently high-quality development across Wychavon, including exemplar design, meaning schemes that are designed so well they set a standard others should aim to follow.

We want new development in Wychavon to be better designed and easier to assess.

The new code gives clearer instructions from the start. This should help developers understand what is expected before they submit an application, help planning officers make consistent decisions, and reduce delays caused by changes later in the process.

It should also make it easier for roads, open spaces and other features to be adopted, where appropriate, by public bodies, because they will have been designed to the right standards from the beginning.

Overall, the aim is to improve quality while making the planning process more straightforward.

The design code applies across the whole of Wychavon so that everyone is working to the same clear set of rules.

At the same time, it recognises different places have different qualities. Towns, villages and rural areas all have their own character, and new development should respect those differences.

The code is designed to create a consistent approach across the district to create a sense of belonging between each area, while still allowing each place to keep the features that make it recognisable and unique.

The new code has been written to be used in practice, not just read as policy.

It takes developers through the steps they are expected to follow, starting with understanding the site and its surroundings, then planning the layout, and finally showing how the proposal meets the requirements of the code.

Because the rules are clear, developers should know what is required before they submit an application. This should reduce uncertainty and help schemes move through the planning process more smoothly.

Below is a brief summary of the main sections of the code.

Understanding Wychavon

The code begins by explaining about Wychavon, looking at the landscape, towns, villages, important views and natural features like rivers.

This helps make sure developers design schemes that responded to the place where they will be built, rather than simply pick up a template they have used elsewhere in the country.

Interpreting a site

The code explains how developers should understand a site before they start designing it. This includes looking at the surrounding area, nearby buildings, streets, landscape and existing trees. Developers will need to explain how their design responds to these features when they submit a planning application.

Strategic design principles

The next section sets out the main principles for good development across the district. These include topics such as sustainability, climate change, walkable neighbourhoods and protecting important views or landscape features.

Detailed design requirements

The code then sets out more detailed requirements for how development should be designed. This includes guidance on things like:

• street layout
• trees and landscaping
• drainage and flood management
• parking
• boundaries and public spaces
• building appearance and materials

These requirements help make sure new places are attractive, functional and well connected.

The design code will be used by our Development Management team when planning applications are considered. Proposals will need to show how they follow the code.

It will also be used when larger plans are prepared, such as masterplans and site frameworks for strategic locations like Wychavon Town, so that good design is built in from the earliest stage.

The code will apply to development sites of ten homes or more, as these have the greatest impact on how places look and function.

The public consultation runs from 30 March 2026 to 5pm on 30 April 2026.

All comments received will be reviewed and any necessary changes made before the final design code is adopted.

You can have your say by filling in our online survey. We would like to know whether you believe the design code is clear, reflects the character of the district and would help improve the quality of new development.