<p><span>Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a range of planning measures “to enshrine quality, beauty and sustainability in the heart of local decision-making”. </span></p> <p><span>Speaking at a Building Beautiful Places event yesterday (July 20), Jenrick said that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) would be updated to reflect the government’s Building Beautiful Places plan, putting an emphasis on “beautiful, practical design”, with residents and planners able to reject scheme designs that are of poor quality, unsustainable or “ugly”. </span></p> <p><span>The revised NPPF will also focus on placemaking and the importance of local design codes. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said local authorities would be expected to develop a local design code - an illustrated design guide which sets the standard for a local area and shaped by local people.</span></p> <p><span>Local design codes form part of the now published National Model Design Code (NMDC) - another measure announced by Jenrick. This is a “toolkit” providing guidance for all elements of new development, including tree-lined streets and sustainable drainage. </span></p> <p><span>Jenrick also announced the previously trailed Office for Place which will “drive up” design standards and test and pilot the NMDC with more than 20 local councils and …