Access Within Settlement Limits – Quality Development Approach

One of the key themes that underlies the Department's approach to planning is quality development, in particular, the need to secure a higher level of design, layout and landscaping for residential development. Planning Policy Statement 7 'Quality Residential Environments' recognises that the design of many housing developments in recent years has tended to be dominated by roads considerations. Properties have often backed onto nearby roads or other public areas and created unsightly views. This has, in part, resulted from the practice of minimising the number of access points onto the public road.