Appendix C — Policy and guidance detail
This checklist is underpinned by the following policy and guidance:
The NPPF 2024 strongly encourages engagement with the local community, particularly paragraphs 40, 41, 131, 137, and 138.
The ‘Effective community engagement on design’ section of the Planning Practice Guidance then elaborates on how inclusive engagement processes should be undertaken.
The National Model Design Code has an appendix which provides additional detail on how inclusive engagement processes should be undertaken.
The adopted Lambeth Statement of Community Involvement provides borough-specific detail on how inclusive engagement processes should be undertaken and is referenced throughout. It is mainly focused on what the Council will do but does have guidance for developers.
Relevant London Plan and Lambeth Local Plan polices are replicated below.
London Plan GG1 Building Strong and Inclusive Communities
Good growth is inclusive growth. To build on the city’s tradition of openness, diversity and equality, and help deliver strong and inclusive communities, those involved in planning and development must:
A - encourage early and inclusive engagement with stakeholders, including local communities, in the development of proposals, policies and area-based strategies
H - support and promote the creation of a London where all Londoners, including children and young people, older people, disabled people, and people with young children, as well as people with other protected characteristics, can move around with ease and enjoy the opportunities the city provides, creating a welcoming environment that everyone can use confidently, independently, and with choice and dignity, avoiding separation or segregation
I - support and promote the creation of an inclusive London where all Londoners, regardless of their age, disability, gender, gender identity, marital status, religion, race, sexual orientation, social class, or whether they are pregnant or have children, can share in its prosperity, culture and community, minimising the barriers, challenges and inequalities they face.
GG1 Supporting text:
1.1.5 - Early engagement with local people leads to better planning proposals, with Neighbourhood Plans providing a particularly good opportunity for communities to shape growth in their areas. Taking advantage of the knowledge and experience of local people will help to shape London’s growth, creating a thriving city that works better for all Londoners.
London Plan D5 Inclusive Design
B - Development proposals should achieve the highest standards of accessible and inclusive design. They should:
1) be designed taking into account London’s diverse population
C - Design and Access Statements, submitted as part of development proposals, should include an inclusive design statement.
D5 Supporting text:
3.5.3 - Inclusive design principles should be discussed with boroughs in advance of an application being submitted, to ensure that these principles are understood and incorporated into the original design concept. To demonstrate this, and to inform decision making, speed up the process and bring about better-quality development, an inclusive design statement is required as part of the Design and Access Statement. The inclusive design statement should:
- explain the design concept and illustrate how an inclusive design approach has been incorporated into this
- detail what best practice standards and design guidance documents have been applied in terms of inclusive design
- show that the potential impacts of the proposal on people and communities who share a protected characteristic and who will be affected by it have been considered
- set out how access and inclusion will be maintained and managed, including fire evacuation procedures
- detail engagement with relevant user groups, such as disabled or older people’s organisations, or other equality groups.
3.5.5 - The social factors that influence inclusion have a direct impact on well-being and are an important component in achieving more inclusive communities. Many factors that influence potential barriers to inclusion can be mitigated by ensuring the involvement of local communities in the planning policies and decisions that will affect them.
London Plan S4 Play and informal recreation
S4 supporting text
5.4.4 - There should be appropriate provision for different age groups, including older children and teenagers. Particular consideration should be given to consultation with children and young people in the design of new provision to understand their changing needs. The needs of parents and carers should also be considered in the design of these spaces. Appropriate arrangements for management and maintenance of play and communal facilities should be provided. Youth facilities for young people should also be incorporated where possible to ensure that young people have suitable spaces to meet and play and feel welcome and included in developments and the public realm.
Lambeth Local Plan Q1 Inclusive environments
A - The council will:
ii. secure new development which is compliant with current best practice;
and
iii. expect applicants to show in their inclusive design statements how their proposals achieve inclusive design.
B - The design of developments should reflect good practice principles for promoting child-friendly housing and environments.
Safety in Public Space – Women, Girls and Gender Diverse People
This document has been produced by the GLA and provides further detail on how inclusion can be supported by participatory engagement. The document is focused on Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse people but there are several overlapping principles, particularly around general principles of inclusive engagement. The ‘project setup’ and ‘understanding’ sections are most relevant.
Making London Child-friendly
This document has been produced by the GLA and provides further detail on how inclusion can be supported by participatory engagement. The document is focused on children and young people but many of the same general principles of inclusive engagement apply. The ‘participation’ section is most relevant.
Access, equalities, and inclusion LPG
This is in development by the GLA as an update to the Accessible London LPG.