📐 Design Intelligence

Space standards, daylight, parking, privacy, density, accessibility, and design code compliance.

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Use these tools when designing your scheme or reviewing drawings. They help ensure your proposal meets technical standards before submission, reducing the risk of officer objections on design grounds.

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Space Standards Popular

NDSS 2015 compliance checker — Gross Internal Area minimums, room-by-room sizing, London Plan +10% uplift, and M4(2) accessibility standards.

When to use: Use when designing residential schemes. Many LPAs now require NDSS compliance. Check your local plan to see if it applies.

📜 Nationally Described Space Standard 2015, London Plan Policy D6

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Daylight & Sunlight

BRE 209 (2022 edition) assessment — Vertical Sky Component, daylight distribution, Annual Probable Sunlight Hours, and the 25-degree check.

When to use: Use when your development is close to existing windows, or when neighbouring objections about loss of light are likely. Critical for infill, extensions, and taller buildings.

📜 BRE Report 209 (2022), NPPF Paragraph 125

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Parking

Vehicle, cycle, and EV charging bay calculator — disabled provision, Part S 2022 compliance, bay dimensions, and aisle width standards.

When to use: Use for any development that provides or changes parking. EV charging infrastructure (Part S) is mandatory for new dwellings since June 2022.

📜 Local Plan parking standards, Building Regs Part S 2022

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Privacy & Separation

Back-to-back separation distances (21m standard), oblique angle reductions, balcony/terrace overlooking, and amenity impact assessment.

When to use: Use when your proposal has windows, balconies, or terraces facing existing habitable rooms. Privacy is one of the most common objection grounds.

📜 Local Plan design policies, BRE Site Layout Planning for Daylight and Sunlight

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Density

Dwellings per hectare, habitable rooms per hectare, plot ratio, dwelling mix analysis, and National Design Code density benchmarking.

When to use: Use for multi-unit residential schemes to check your density is appropriate for the area. Helps defend against "overdevelopment" objections.

📜 NPPF Paragraph 124-125, National Design Code

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Accessibility

Building Regulations Part M compliance — M4(1) Visitable, M4(2) Accessible & Adaptable, M4(3) Wheelchair User dwellings, and Equality Act considerations.

When to use: Use when designing residential schemes. Many LPAs require a percentage of M4(2) or M4(3) units. Check your local plan for specific requirements.

📜 Building Regs Part M, Equality Act 2010

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Design Code New

National Design Guide 10 characteristics compliance — context, identity, built form, movement, nature, public spaces, uses, homes & buildings, resources, lifespan.

When to use: Use when preparing a Design & Access Statement or responding to design-related officer queries. Helps structure your design rationale.

📜 National Design Guide, National Model Design Code

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Tall Buildings

NPPF Para 131 tall buildings assessment — height ratio analysis, design quality criteria, heritage sensitivity, skyline impact, and wind/microclimate triggers.

When to use: Use when your building is significantly taller than its surroundings or exceeds the local plan definition of "tall" (varies by authority).

📜 NPPF Paragraph 131, Historic England Tall Buildings Advice Note 4