DLUHC Consultation closing 18th October 2023

The Government is consulting on proposed changes to Local Plan Making. The consultation runs for 3 months closing on the 18th of October 2023.

The topic of the consultation set out at the beginning of the document is: “A consultation on our proposals to make local plans (and minerals and waste plans) simpler, faster to prepare, and more accessible.”

Some of the changes currently proposed are limited in their extent with a more substantial review promised at a later stage. The HUDU team will be working with London’s five Integrated Care Boards to respond to the consultation and the final response will be published on our website. We welcome partners sharing their view on the proposed changes and particularly how they support improving health and wellbeing and addressing health inequalities, and what further changes should be included to this end.

You can learn more about the NPPF consultation here:

Plan-making reforms: consultation on implementation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Designing for the Mind – new guidance published Autumn 2022

The BSI published ‘Design for the Mind – Neurodiversity and the built environment’ in late 2022 to provide a guide to encourage and enable sensory inclusive environments.

The document provides guidance on the “design of the built environment to include the needs of people who experience sensory or neurological processing differences. It covers buildings and external spaces for public and commercial use, and residential accommodation for independent or supported living. It gives guidance on elements including lighting, acoustics, décor, flooring, layout, wayfinding, familiarity, clarity, thermal comfort and odour; and incorporates principles to ensure that people with or having a range of processing differences are able to access and enjoy their experience of the built environment”.

HUDU is interested in sharing case studies where sensory inclusive environments have been created within health and care settings, but also within residential and mixed developments and the public realm. Please let us know of any schemes you’re aware of, or been involved in delivering.