DRAFT DESIGN GUIDE ADDENDUM SUPPLEMENTARY PLANNING DOCUMENT
Harlow Council Is consulting on the Draft Design Guide Addendum Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). SPDs contain guidance which expand on policies in the Harlow Local Development Plan. The Council already has a Design Guide SPD (adopted 2011) which is used in examining design principles in new development, when assessing planning applications, in conjunction with the Harlow Local Development Plan. The Council has now prepared an Addendum which will accompany the existing Design Guide. Most of the content of the existing Design Guide remains relevant, but it does not include guidance on a range of subject matters which are addressed by recently-updated national planning policy and guidance. The Addendum, therefore, provides guidance on these matters.
The Addendum comprises five sections: Tall Buildings; Privacy and Overlooking; Amenity Space and Gardens; Updated Householder Guidance; and Climate Change. The existing Design Guide has a householder section, but the section in the Addendum provides further guidance.
The Addendum, once adopted, will itself become an SPD and a material consideration in the determination of planning applications. It will also inform relevant pre-application discussions. It will be important that both the existing Design Guide and the Addendum are read together.
We are now seeking views on the Draft Design Guide Addendum SPD. The most efficient way to provide comments is by emailing

 but letters can be sent to Forward Planning, Civic Centre, Water Gardens, Harlow CM20 1WG. The consultation starts on Thursday 22 July and closes at 5pm on Friday 3 September. Comments received after this date may not be accepted. This six-week period is longer than the minimum statutory period of four weeks, to allow for the traditional summer holiday period.
The Addendum can be viewed online at

, or in Harlow libraries and the Civic Centre during normal opening hours. If you are unable to access the document, please email us or phone (01279) 446 577 and we can send you a hard copy. By responding, you give consent to the Council to hold & process your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulation. Your name, organisation & comments may be available for others to view at the Council offices & on the Council website. The Design Guide Addendum has been prepared in accordance with The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended)