Design codes are like Huntley & Palmers biscuit tins: people see different things in them. In fact, the only thing everyone agrees about is that they are here to stay. We get to the bottom of the argument.

Instead of spending money on lawyers and inquiries, developers can spend it on planning and design

John Prescott, deputy prime minister

How can we improve the built environment and get planning permission in a reasonable time? there is a huge sense of frustration in the industry.

John Oldham director, Countryside Properties

Six influences on design that you should know about

1 Design coding

CABE鈥檚 guide, The Use of Urban Design Codes, was published last November and sets out the key issues about coding, as well as giving its definition of what a code should include. It says it should have two related components. The first is a 3D masterplan, showing the intended arrangement of spaces and buildings. The second is a set of written requirements explaining the plan. This should include dimensions, and it must address detailed issues such as the use of materials, landscaping and the mix of tenancies. CABE advocates codes that are not 鈥渟o prescriptive that they give too little scope for distinctive architectural expression.鈥� CABE concludes that coding is applicable to some larger schemes such as town extensions, major brownfield redevelopment and new settlements, but believes it won鈥檛 work for complex infill schemes.

2 New Urbanism

The American school of New Urbanism and the Prince鈥檚 Foundation share similar views 鈥� both promote design codes in an atavistic, pattern-book form. In the USA, new urbanism has been a way of creating higher density, walkable neighbourhoods, but in the UK such schemes are already being created without the rigour of pattern-book coding. Nonetheless, John Prescott was impressed by US New Urbanist thinking when he visited Seaside in Florida, the model for the film The Truman Show. But new urbanism has plenty of detractors, including the Bedfordshire police force, which regards the permeable layouts and car parking courts as creating crime-friendly locations on a par with the now-infamous Radburn estate layouts.

3 黑洞社区 for Life standard

黑洞社区 for Life, the initiative established by the HBF, CABE and the Civic Trust, promotes design excellence, primarily through its 黑洞社区 for Life standard. Housebuilders apply to have their schemes appraised for the 黑洞社区 for Life standard, and should, if they are lucky enough, be rewarded with a gold or silver standard. Only seven schemes have achieved the coveted gold standard so far (the one pictured to the left is Copthorn Homes鈥� Abode scheme near Harlow in Essex), but a lot more could reach this benchmark, as there are rumours that it could be required on more sites 鈥� notably those sold by English Partnerships. The standard鈥檚 assessment criteria cover a scheme鈥檚 character, its roads, parking and pedestrianisation, its design and construction, and its environment and community. Marks are awarded for such innovations as outperforming minimum standards in the 黑洞社区 Regulations, the use of advances in construction technology, and mixed tenure.

4 Egan鈥檚 seven points of sustainability

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has got troubleshooter Sir John Egan to tackle the raising of design standards from another angle: by investigating how professional skills can be improved to deliver the communities plan. As part of Egan鈥檚 review, a seven-point definition of a sustainable community has been developed. These are: social and cultural; environmental; housing and the built environment; transport and connectivity; economy; public, private, community and voluntary services; and governance.

5 Places of safety This month, the ODPM is due to publish its guidance to planning out crime in a substantial document called Safer Places. The guidance extends the Secured by Design concept from housing to all forms of development, and contains a series of case studies that act as positive models for the industry.

6 Prescott鈥檚 wow factor If you thought a shining stainless steel kitchen was enough to give a home the wow factor, then think again. John Prescott has much bigger things in mind in his own personal pursuit of wow for new communities. In speeches, Prescott has highlighted landmarks designed by signature architects, such as Santiago Calatrava鈥檚 Milwaukee Art Museum, Foster and Partners鈥� Swiss Re building in London and the Deep Aquarium in his home town of Hull (pictured above), designed by Terry Farrell and Partners. He wants to see the same wow factor in the new communities, but has been less forthcoming so far in citing residential projects that have achieved it. Prescott has, however, described Copthorn Homes鈥� Abode scheme at Newhall in Harlow, Peabody Trust鈥檚 BedZED in Sutton, and the Greenwich Millennium Village, as 鈥渇antastic鈥� 鈥� which, although we wouldn鈥檛 want to hype up the deputy prime minister鈥檚 words, must be pretty close if not equal to a wow.