Folkestone & Hythe Residents Urged to Join Community Panel Shaping New Design Code for Future Developments

Folkestone & Hythe District Council is seeking residents to join a new community panel tasked with contributing to the development of the district’s first formal design code — a blueprint intended to guide future building projects in both form and function.

This design code will serve as an authoritative planning document, providing specific, locally informed standards for new development. It will address elements such as street layouts, architectural styles, building materials, sustainability measures, parking solutions, and bin storage. Once adopted, the code will become a key reference for assessing the design quality of planning proposals.

What Is a Design Code – And Why it Matters

A design code is ultimately a set of design requirements for the physical development of a site or area, composed of clear, specific, and unambiguous rules. It goes beyond a broad guideline — functioning as a regulatory tool that operationalises a masterplan or design framework by providing precise instructions for how buildings and spaces should be shaped and arranged. This ensures that development ambitions for quality and character are consistently realised.

National Policy Backing

At the national level, the National Model Design Code (NMDC) builds upon the ten characteristics of well‑designed places — including context, movement, identity, and public space — translating them into tangible, visual, and numerical parameters that local authorities can tailor to their area.

Local planning authorities are expected to deliver design guides or codes aligned with these principles, embedding local character and preferences into development standards.

Government-Approved Seven Step Process

The government’s model suggests a seven‑step preparation process:

1. Analysis – Identify the area, gather evidence (e.g. character, heritage, landscape).

2. Vision & Coding Plan – Map out area types and draft a design vision.

3. Masterplanning (for large sites) – Illustrate how streets, spaces, and buildings connect.

4. Area‑Type Guidance – Set rules for each area type on things like density, movement, and identity.

5. Themed Guidance – Add district-wide direction on climate resilience, green infrastructure, accessibility, etc.

6. Testing and Refinement – Apply the code to model sites to ensure clarity and practicality.

7. Community Engagement – Involve residents throughout to ground the code in local values.

Why Local Voices Matter

Council Leader Cllr Jim Martin emphasises, “This is an exciting opportunity to share your views about the place where you live and how you think new development could be designed to conserve or improve the district.” He adds that no planning experience is necessary — just an interest in shaping the future of the district.

To further this democratic approach, the council invites residents from diverse backgrounds to apply for the panel — a process that is simple, inclusive, and rewarding.

How To Get Involved

• Apply by completing a short online form or emailing planning.policy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk. Printed copies and assistance are available by calling 01303 853000.

• No specialist knowledge required – you don’t need any specific skills for this role or any knowledge of the planning system, just an interest in improving the district’s built environment.

• Workshops: Panel members will be invited to two in-person events:

  • Sunday 28 September 2025 (morning)

  • Saturday 29 November 2025 (afternoon)

• Deadline: 3 pm on Wednesday 27 August 2025

These sessions will combine collaborative review of design examples with drafting locally-informed standards, grounded in both national policy and community insight.

A Real Chance To Shape Quality and Identity

Residents have a rare opportunity to influence the physical and cultural landscape of Folkestone & Hythe. By participating, they can help create developments that not only meet high design standards but also foster sustainability, community identity, and place-making — anchored in an approach endorsed by national policy and professional practice.

The Shepway Vox Team

Not Owned By Headgefunds or Barons