A design guide for the appearance of future developments in the county has been approved by Wiltshire Council.

It will provide local design guidance and aim to ensure developments are “consistently high quality.”

The guide was approved at the full council meeting on Tuesday, February 20.

It says it is underpinned by “three golden threads”: health and wellbeing, sustainability and climate resilience and getting the right homes in the right places.  

It gives guidance on working with the topography of the county as well as its character.

Wiltshire Times: Wiltshire Council wants developers to celebrate heritage.Wiltshire Council wants developers to celebrate heritage. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

The document says developers should “engage the local community in a conversation about what is locally distinctive and important to them.”

It also encourages celebrating heritage and drawing inspiration “from the previous historic landscape, rural vernacular, industrial and commercial heritage or buildings, strongly reflecting particular historic trades.”

The guide states that height differences between sites within a plot should be minimised and privacy for households should be considered in the layout.

Wiltshire Times: The document gives an example of a boulevard in Chippenham. The document gives an example of a boulevard in Chippenham. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

It also says that, when possible, attached forms such as modern town housing should be used over detached homes.

These new developments should be compact to increase “neighbourliness” and efficient use of the land.

In environments that are already populated, the detailing of new developments should try to match or complement any existing positive identity.

The document states that designs should avoid using items which are “visibly artificial” such as sheets of “plastic roof tiles”, “plastic false chimneys” or “foam stone” detailing.

Wiltshire Times: According to the guide, developers should avoid using items which are visibly artificial.According to the guide, developers should avoid using items which are visibly artificial. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

If an area has a distinctive characteristic of natural stone, then a similar natural stone is preferred for any new development.

Traditional design should be prioritised in historic environments and community buildings should become landmarks within the area.

Developers should provide plans for connected networks of routes for all modes of transport, prioritising active travel and public transport.

They should also look for opportunities to plant trees and extend designated wildlife sites.

Wiltshire Council expects to see plans for well-located, high quality and attractive public spaces.

Wiltshire Times: The guide calls for multi-purpose open space. The guide calls for multi-purpose open space. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

72 councillors voted to approve the guide whilst 5 councillors abstained.

Councillor Nick Botterill, cabinet member for finance, said: “We should try to avoid things which are intrinsically ugly and not repeat the mistakes of the past.

“There are fundamentally good and sound principles of design which are universally applicable and which this guide adopts.”

The leader of the council, Richard Clewer, expressed disappointment that there wasn’t more focus on terraced housing but said that the document was “a really good step forwards.”