Spelthorne Design Code: Engaging the community to generate an evidence base for a provably popular design code

We are part of the team led by David Lock Associates that is preparing a borough-wide design code for Spelthorne. The code will address a specific number of built environment issues, bridging the disciplines of architecture, urban design, planning, landscape and public realm design.

For this project, Richard is working in partnership with long-time collaborator Laura Mulhern of Støriie to deliver the public engagement elements of the project. For a design code to be suitable for adoption by a local planning authority, it needs to be “provably popular,” and our task was to design and deliver a programme of events to generate a robust evidence base that can prove the popularity of certain aspects of design. A key element of our engagement programme was the establishment of a representative Citizen’s Panel. This has proved to be an invaluable mechanism to evaluate the more detailed elements of design.

Our Approach

At the outset, Richard planned a series of interlinked and coordinated tasks, designed to gather the best possible evidence to support a design code. This process was split over two phases and was approved by the council. Richard and Laura ran the logistics, planning and delivery of the work. The emerging results were shared with the David Lock Associates team throughout the process.

Phase One – July to September 2024

Walking Tours – These comprised fifteen two-hour self-guided daytime and evening tours, with local residents taking Richard and Laura to places they liked and disliked while conversations were held about the issues. The precise route of each walk was determined by local people on the day; we simply followed, listening to them and taking notes.

Digital Tours – We invited local people to sign-up for a digital walk. These were the same as the in-person Walking Tours but held using Zoom and Google maps. These took place in the evenings and lasted 90 mins and were aimed those unable to attend daytime sessions or those with limited mobility. A further advantage of the digital walks was that we could cover a much larger distance than the in-person walks, flying around the Google map.

Classroom Sessions – We worked with students aged 12-16 years old in local schools, using specially prepared worksheets. We asked them a series of specific questions about their memories, recent experiences and hopes for the future in town centres and neighbourhoods across the borough. We also invited them to draw their ideas, allowing us to gather both written and visual outputs.

Minibus Tour – We next took local politicians on a minibus tour around the borough, stopping off at locations that had been highlighted to us by local people on the Walking Tours and through the Digital Tours. We also relayed the ideas students at the schools had shared with us.

Interactive Map – Collaborating with the council team, we established a digital interactive map using the Commonplace platform. This allowed local people to place a pin on the map to identify a building, street or space that they liked (green pin) or disliked (red pin) and explain their reasons why.

Analysis & Interim Report – The results from all activities up until this point were processed, analysed and interpreted. Based on the data gathered and its analysis, we issued an Interim Report, which set out the main themes and concepts that were emerging.

Phase Two – October to December 2024

Establish a Citizens’ Panel – Collaborating with the council, we established a panel of fifty residents that were representative of age, gender and geography (i.e. where they live in the borough). All those that had taken part in events up until this point were invited to apply and a public advert was also issued. Once finalised, the panel was invited to participate in two interactive workshops.

Workshop Design – Using the interim report, we designed two half-day workshops, with six tasks running across both sessions. The task topics responded directly to the fundamental issues as raised in the early research phase, as follows:

1. Developing a Borough-Wide Vision Statement (text)
2. Architecture & Urban Design to Conserve or Change (photographic)
3. Neighbourhood Vision Statements (text)
4. Gender Inclusive Design, focusing on safety and accessibility (maps)
5. Going Out – town expansion (3-D design responses to various edge conditions)
6. Going Up – height, density and urban form (3-D design responses to building typologies)

Using a variety of techniques and different media ensured both events were lively, accessible and enjoyable. Throughout both half day events, several short slideshow presentations were made by the professional team, on issues such as street design, green spaces, sustainability and gender inclusive design. These presentations helped to structure and break-up the afternoon’s agenda and provided background information to help participants complete the workshop tasks.

Analysis & Final Report – The results from both half-day workshops have been processed, analysed and interpreted and will directly inform the final design code. The results will also form the basis of a community engagement appendix that will be attached to the final design code.

Acknowledgments & Credits

With thanks to the team at Spelthorne Borough Council for excellent organisational support and to the people of Spelthorne for their time, ideas and contributions to help co-create the design code. Film by Joe Hayes and Richard Charlton of Kindful Creative, Poole.

The next event will be in early 2025 when the Citizens’ Panel will reconvene to review the draft design code. More to follow.