<p>The government has published its draft national design code and announced other measures in response to last year’s Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission report and to further its design agenda.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-planning-policy-framework-and-national-model-design-code-consultation-proposals">National Model Design Code</a>, a consultation on which runs until March 27, will provide a checklist of design principles to consider for new schemes, including street character, building type and requirements addressing wellbeing and environmental impact, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) explained. Local authorities can use the code to form their own local design codes.</p> <p>MHCLG explained it was its ambition for each council to produce its own local design code and guide, “so residents have a real say in the design of new developments in their area”. </p> <p><span>Within the design code consultation, ministers are also consulting on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to focus on beauty and placemaking and to ensure tree-lined streets for new schemes. The proposals include an expectation that good quality design will be approved while poor quality is rejected.</span></p> <p><span>MHCLG said the word “beauty” would be specifically included in planning rules for the first time since the planning system was created in 1947.</span></p> <p><span>It also intends …