Communities in Weymouth empowered to shape design of neighbourhoods
Weymouth is one of 25 areas in England to have been awarded a share of £3 million to help shape new neighbourhoods.
The announcement by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities awarded Weymouth Town Council’s Neighbourhood planning group £30,000 to develop what’s known as a design code. The codes are a collection of planning principles that help shape new communities – such as specifying local building materials or deciding the layout of streets.
From Carlisle to Weymouth, the councils announced as part of the Government’s Design Code Pathfinder Programme will benefit residents who will be able to have their say on the development of new homes, buildings and amenities, such as shops and workspaces in the area, helping to foster a sense of pride in the places they live.
Weymouth Town Cllr David Northam, Vice Chair of the Weymouth Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to take part in this programme, following a rigorous assessment of all the applicants.
“Weymouth Town Council will be offered support from a panel of experts and £30,000 of funding to produce a design code which sets out how resilient coastal communities can be achieved in practice. This will ensure that our communities benefit from the development of high-quality homes in well-designed neighbourhoods, which are well connected and respond well to the natural environment.”
The design codes will be used as examples that communities across the country can draw on to produce their own, with support from the Office for Place at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
The full list of councils and projects that were announced can be viewed here.
To get involved in shaping Weymouth’s Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out the policies that are used to help make decisions about planning applications in the area, email neighbourhood@weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk or visit www.weymouthtowncouncil.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plan/