3.5 Technical quality
In order to ensure healthy lifestyles, buildings must always be designed to achieve high levels of natural light and ventilation. Gardens and living spaces should preferably face sunny aspects whilst bedrooms and services are best located in the shaded aspect as long as the amenity of the street scene and public place safety are not compromised. Residential design should incorporate storage for every day items within the fabric of the building, all easily accessible from the most convenient point.
Wherever possible, outdoor taps and drains will be provided in locations to access front gardens. Rear gardens must always include an outdoor tap and drain point. Residential schemes adjacent to sources of noise pollution, potential contamination or reduced air quality must be accompanied by appropriately detailed surveys of existing conditions and modelling tests of proposals; and these must demonstrate that the design responds positively to any constraints always prioritising the health and wellbeing of residents.
Design Criteria
3.5.1 Orientation, light and natural ventilation are key criteria to inform home designs.
3.5.2 Waste, bicycles, pushchairs and garden equipment can be safely stored within the fabric of the building, and are easily accessible from the most convenient point.
3.5.3 Waste management plans are provided for communal living residential blocks or towers and for mixed-use schemes.
3.5.4 Service installations, drainage pipes/balcony drains, metre cabinets, etc. shall be integrated to the fabric of the buildings and boundary treatments, and will not be added to these as an afterthought.