Robert Jenrick, the secretary of state for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), has launched a new national design guide ‘with clout’ in a bid to wipe out ‘ugly or thoughtless’ development.

The guidance, unveiled at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, will replace ‘unenforceable design ideas’ with a new ‘national standard’ for local authorities. The design guide would be a material consideration in planning applications and appeals, according to Jenrick, with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to be updated to reflect this ‘at the first opportunity’.

Local residents will also be able to work with planning authorities to design their own local guides reflecting the needs of their own area – part of the government’s ‘broader commitment to localism’.

Speaking at the conference, Jenrick said: “I’m announcing the first national design guide and asking every community to produce their own, empowering people to make sure development works for them, in keeping with local heritage and vernacular and with each new street lined with trees.”

It follows the publication of the Building Better Building Beautiful commission’s report earlier this year, which called on councils to ‘say no to ugliness’. Other housing policies unveiled by Jenrick include a ‘common sense’ proposal to give housing association tenants the right to buy through shared ownership.