The UK Government has updated its new build design guidance.

The government says councils and developers will use the guidance to make visible improvements for residents, including calmer streets with less traffic to improved green spaces.

New builds will be expected to address and adapt to climate change, creating adequate shade and minimising potential flood risk.

The guidance encourages all parties to support local jobs and amenities by design.

As part of its approach to support smaller developers and to set realistic expectations on larger developments, the government is set to create clear rules to create successful places, ready to launch later this year.

The new guidance forms part of the biggest planning rewrite in a decade to help speed up local planning decisions and build 1.5 million homes.

The government’s Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook says: “Exemplary development should be the norm not the exception so that more communities feel the benefits of new development and welcome it.”

“As we act to boost housing supply, we are also taking steps to improve the design and quality of the homes and neighbourhoods being built.”

“These standards will help ensure new homes and neighbourhoods are attractive, well-connected, sustainable, and built to last.”