Local identity and character in development

Local identity and character are shaped by the history, heritage and culture of place and the people who have lived there. Understanding the history of how an area has evolved is important in determining how it can be appropriately developed. Local character will influence the siting of development in the wider landscape, followed by the layout, pattern of streets and spaces, the movement networks within them and the arrangement of building blocks fronting them. It continues to influence the built form, height, scale and massing of the building blocks right through to their articulation and choice of materials.