The ‘Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’ presented a report on Thursday setting out a series of recommendations to Government on how to improve the design of homes, streets and neighbourhoods.

The commission’s ‘Living with Beauty’ report says that the Minister for Place could help to ensure that housing and transport are better integrated. It goes on to say that all local authorities should appoint a ‘Chief Placemaker’ to champion good design in terms of highways, infrastructure and housing.

Living with Beauty also points out that putting more focus on health and wellbeing outcomes when designing places could lead to a greater desire to plant street trees, install benches and introduce streets where children can play freely. It also suggests that a reduced need for private cars in the long term could lead to more beautiful spaces, but that policy makers should prepare for the change now.

The commission’s report is critical of housing people in ‘former offices on business parks miles from public transport’ and expresses concern that the Government’s proposed Towns Fund does not place sufficient focus on public transport and the themes of ‘identity, place, beauty and liveability’.

Welcoming the new report, the Design Council’s chief executive Sarah Weir said: “The report shows that beauty is so much more than aesthetics; it makes clear the connection between well designed places and enhanced health and wellbeing.

“I’m particularly encouraged to see people and the environment placed at the heart of the planning process, the emphasis on holistic placemaking, and the need to ensure our built environment professionals are equipped with design skills and clear guidance that they need. I hope we will now see swift, consistent and decisive action from local authorities, planners and developers across the UK.”Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT said:

“CIHT welcomes the publication of this report which highlights the important role that highway and transport professionals play in the creation of better places and the need for better integration of planning and transport.”

The report is consistent with CIHT’s Better planning, Better transport, Better places advice launched last year which shows a need to embed a clear place-based vision that has sustainable transport, health, climate change and environmental needs integrated from the start.

Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT said:

“CIHT is currently in discussions with the Department for Transport to collaborate on new guidance, Manual for Streets 3. The new guidance will update the requirements for network planning and design to meet the needs of all users of streets and roads.”

More analysis from CIHT on Building Better, Building Beautiful is available here