DLUHC Design Codes Evaluation
2023
We worked with the Design Council, DLUHC and the Office for Place to evaluate the Design Code Pathfinder Programme, producing a detailed evaluation report, practical roadmap and case studies to guide others through setting up, developing and implementing local design codes.
Project resources
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Design Code Pathfinders
Programme Report
The Design Codes Support Programme, supported by the Design Council with DLUHC and The Office for Place, helps Local Authorities and Neighbourhood Planning Groups develop their own Design Codes based on the National Model Design Code (NMDC). Building on a pilot with 13 councils, the programme supports 21 Pathfinder Local Authorities and 4 Neighbourhood Planning Groups to produce exemplar codes. As evaluators, we captured key learning from the pilot areas and the wider programme, highlighted what worked, identified challenges, and shared insights so other authorities could benefit from these experiences.
Our Approach
We worked with the Design Council to evaluate the Design Codes Support Programme and draw out key learning from the pilot areas. Our methods included:
Developing an evaluation framework linking outcomes to research methods.
Using participatory evaluation tools at the end of each workshop to gather feedback on successes, challenges, and suggestions for sharing learning.
Conducting light-touch surveys to capture participants’ knowledge and confidence in developing and implementing Design Codes.
Running semi-structured interviews with Design Council experts, pathfinder participants, and other stakeholders to track progress, reflect on pilot learning, identify barriers and solutions, and collect material for case studies and media outputs.
Collecting participant demographic data via diversity monitoring surveys.
Supporting the development of case studies and short films to share practical insights and highlight best practice from the programme.
Key Findings
Our evaluation highlighted several core areas of learning, aligned with the stages of the National Model Design Code (NMDC):
Building a skilled and committed coding team:
Pathfinders with dedicated in-house capacity and design expertise achieved the best outcomes. Where consultants were used, success depended on clear briefs and collaborative working.Scoping the framework for design coding:
Teams with up-to-date local plans found it easier to align codes with planning policies. Focusing on a small number of design issues proved most effective.Designing effective engagement strategies:
While many Pathfinders recognised the value of community input, achieving representative engagement remained challenging. Future coding processes should plan engagement early and tailor it to local contexts.Identifying design champions:
Strong leadership at multiple levels—technical, departmental, executive, and political—was vital to maintaining momentum and ensuring long-term adoption.Determining area types:
Understanding and applying area types as spatial tools was key to success. Rural authorities found adapting urban-based NMDC examples more difficult.Working at different scales:
Defining the right level of detail for authority-wide versus site-specific codes was challenging, but clarity increased as teams gained experience.Writing implementable codes:
Producing concise, usable, and testable codes took longer than anticipated. Clear “musts,” “shoulds,” and “coulds,” supported by checklists, helped simplify and operationalise content.Testing, adoption and implementation:
Early testing with development management officers and developers was crucial. Pathfinders with updated local plans could integrate their codes more easily through SPDs or plan reviews.Further guidance needs:
Teams requested additional support on digital tools, engagement approaches, and integrating themes like net zero, biodiversity net gain, and active travel.
Outputs
The evaluation generated a comprehensive set of outputs designed to capture and share learning across the sector. These included:
Evaluation Report – a detailed assessment of the Pathfinder Programme, distilling key insights and recommendations to inform future policy and practice.
Learning Resources – a suite of practical tools and materials, including a step-by-step roadmap to support local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups in developing design codes.
Case Studies and Short Films – produced to illustrate the three main stages of the design coding process:
Setting up a design code
Developing a design code
Implementing a design code
Together, these outputs provide accessible, action-oriented guidance to help others apply the lessons from the Pathfinder areas and deliver high-quality, locally responsive design codes.
“I think one of the most useful things for us has been the peer group, and having people at the same stage as ourselves, to reach out to and have regular chats and know that we’re not alone.”
Pathfinder authority
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