surroundings, and green infrastructure will help respond to the challenges of the climate emergency.

  1. 222) Tall buildings have a greater impact on their environment than other building types, posing issues relating to microclimate such as wind deflection and overshadowing in particular. These can be especially harmful to residential environments and their associated amenity spaces, as well as public spaces where people dwell, and need to be avoided and mitigated through careful siting and design. Mitigation will be expected to be designed into the scheme and not applied as an afterthought, so assessment should be an ongoing process in developing any design.

ENV 17: Public realm

  1. 1. The council will promote a high-quality network of public realm to foster social inclusivity and interaction. Development proposals shall contribute towards an enhanced public realm network by:
  • responding to the area's historic environment, local character and sense of place through creating locally distinctive places. Through this, public realm must capitalise on opportunities to achieve high quality placemaking, particularly in areas adjacent to heritage assets, transport nodes, waterways, natural assets and other landmarks;
  • ensuring that new development makes a positive contribution to new and existing public spaces through its design, orientation, siting, boundary treatment, and use of materials. Buildings must front onto new and existing public realm to create active frontages and increase natural surveillance;
  • developing spaces that are attractive to all ages, including by providing opportunities for play (including ‘play on the way’), outdoor eating, performances or respite, throughout different times of the day;
  • ensuring that movement through and around the new and existing public realm is accessible for all users through measures such as wayfinding, clearly delineating public and private space, having clear entrance and exit points, and reducing clutter;
  • providing spaces that are responsive and resilient to different climate conditions including access to natural light, and shelter from wind, rain and sun. Schemes must also consider material types to mitigate the urban heat island effect;