Design Guides

Melville Dunbar was the team leader and co-author of one of the most widely respected and well-used design guides - the Essex Design Guide. Since it was introduced, design guides have become extensively employed by local planning authorities to inspire innovative design and raise the standard of development proposals.

The practice has prepared numerous design guides on subjects ranging from agricultural buildings to the physical planning standards for new housing and the design of residential roads, parking and services.


Projects

Cork County Council, Planning Guidance and Standards Series No. 2 MAKING PLACES: A design guide for residential estate development
A Design Guide for Residential Areas, Essex County Council
The Broads, Authority Broads Design Guidance - Agricultural buildings
East Anglia Tourist Board, Towards a Design Guide for Coastal Static Caravan Parks
Isle of Man Government, Planning Circular 3/91 Guide to the Design of Residential Development in the Countryside
This object of the Circular is to inform applicants, architects and developers about the most appropriate methods for the design and construction of residential buildings in the Manx rural landscape. The need for such a guide was prompted by the desire to conserve the Island's special character.

The guide focuses upon the principles for the design of rural dwellings namely, Siting; Proportion and Form; Walls and Roofs (materials and colour); Windows and Doors; Chimneys, Verges and Eaves and External Features. The guide also addresses the design issues in relation to building larger houses standing in their own grounds.

A Design Guide for Residential Areas - Highway Standards
Manx - A Guide to the Design of Residential Roads, Footpaths, Parking and Services