What is a Village Design Statement?

The purpose of our Village Design Statement (VDS) is to provide a documented set of design recommendations made by the local community which can be used by planners to help decide what kind of development and change should be made within the Parish of West Hanningfield.

Village Design Statements have significant status in the local council planning process.  Although they cannot change Local Authority plans, they can significantly influence the way those plans are applied.  Many villages not just in Essex but up and down the country have also produced Village Design Statements and they are constantly being used by the Planning Authorities to help them respond to planning applications.