Bristol Avenue, Draft Supplementary Planning Document Consultation

Public Consultation on draft Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

The Council has prepared a new supplementary planning document (SPD), providing guidance on sustainable design and development.

The purpose of the SPD is to support the implementation of newly adopted policies by setting out the Council’s expected development standards.

Its aim is to promote distinctive, and high-quality development that aligns with the Borough’s character while also addressing sustainability, health and wellbeing impacts.

Once adopted, the SPD will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications – meaning it will carry weight in whether planning applications are approved or not.

The SPD does not introduce new planning policies. It updates how the recently adopted local plan is implemented and consolidates outdated guidance, ensuring that practices remain current and effective.

The document will replace the existing (and dated) Sustainable Design and Construction SPD (2016) existing Residential Design Guidance SPD (2016), and existing design guidance notes on shopfronts and advertisements.

The Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) has been divided into 6 distinct parts:

• Part 1 – Introduction to the Supplementary Planning Document

• Part 2 – 10 Characteristics of Good Design – design and technical guidance for the assessment of planning applications

• Part 3 – Guidance on flat conversions and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

• Part 4 – Guidance on residential extensions and alterations

• Part 5 – Guidance on shopfronts and advertisements

• Part 6 – Appendix and Glossary

This SPD is for anyone involved in the planning process including:

• Any applicant whether a householder, SME or large-scale developer and their planning agent/design teams,

• Council officers and decision-makers who assess planning applications,

• the Barnet Quality Review Panel which provides feedback on planning proposals, and

• residents and other stakeholders who may find this document useful.

Public Consultation

The draft Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) will be the subject of a six-week period of formal public consultation. The six-week consultation period runs from 13 August 2025 to 24 September 2025. Any representations must be submitted before midnight on 24 September 2025.

Your views are important to us

Before finalising the SPD, the Council is keen to get feedback from residents, businesses, developers, partners and any other interested stakeholders.

To find out more please read the draft Sustainable Design and Development Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and then provide your comments, which is available to view on the Council’s website: https://www.engage.barnet.gov.uk/hub-page/supplementary-planning-document-hub

A hard copy of the SPD is also available at the Council’s office at 2 Bristol Avenue, London, NW9 4EW.

How can I comment?

Any comments should be made using the questionnaire available online here: https://www.engage.barnet.gov.uk/hub-page/supplementary-planning-document-hub

. You are not required to answer every question, just the ones that you are interested in.

Please note that representations will be made publicly available.

What happens after public Consultation

Following the consultation, all comments received will be carefully considered and will inform revisions to the draft SPD where appropriate.

Updates will be made to the Sustainable Design and Development Guidance SPD, and it will be put forward for adoption. The Council will produce a Consultation Statement which outlines how we’ve considered and addressed responses received on the SPD.

Once adopted, the SPD will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.