Supplementary planning documents, practice notes and other planning guidance

Look at standards for some types of development and planning documents that we use to help make decisions on planning applications.

Spatial frameworks

These provide detailed guidance about the layout and design of new development in parts of Bristol:

• City Centre Framework (pdf, 20.5MB) (opens new window)
• Bedminster Green Framework (pdf, 14.5MB) (opens new window)
• Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone Spatial Framework

Supplementary planning documents (SPD)

These have extra detail on policies in the Local Plan:

• Planning obligations SPD (pdf, 1.4MB) (opens new window)
• A guide for designing house alterations and extensions (SPD 2) (pdf, 1.1MB) (opens new window)
• Future of Redcliffe (SPD 3) (pdf, 8.4MB) (opens new window)
• Archaeology and Development (SPD 7) (pdf, 1.5MB) (opens new window)
• Nelson Street (SPD 8) (pdf, 3.2MB) (opens new window)
• St Pauls (SPD 10) (pdf, 2.7MB) (opens new window)

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

• Managing the development of houses in multiple occupation SPD (pdf, 865KB) (opens new window)
• Consultation Statement (pdf, 589KB) (opens new window)
• Summary of Reg. 13 Representations (pdf, 491KB) (opens new window)
• Evidence Paper (pdf, 1.4MB) (opens new window)

Urban living

• Urban Living SPD: Making successful places at higher densities (pdf, 4.7MB) (opens new window)
• Urban Living: Evidence base  (pdf, 13.6MB) (pdf, 13.6MB) (opens new window)
• Urban Living: Child yield calculator (spreadsheet, 31KB)  (spreadsheet, 31KB) (opens new window)
• Urban Living: Consultation statement  (pdf, 8.1MB) (opens new window)

University of Bristol

• University of Bristol Strategic Masterplan (SPD 11) (pdf, 9.7MB) (opens new window)
• University of Bristol Appendices (SPD 11) (pdf, 19.4MB) (opens new window)
• University of Bristol Aerial Map (SPD 11) (pdf, 474KB) (opens new window)

Policy advice notes (PAN)

These have more details about parts of the Local Plan:

• Conservation area character appraisals
• Off-street residential parking in conservation areas (pdf, 263KB) (opens new window)  
• Shopfront guidelines (PAN 8) (pdf, 789KB) (opens new window)
• Responding to local character: a design guide (PAN 15) (pdf, 610KB) (opens new window)

Guidance for meeting the Local Plan

We have guidance to help you make sure your development meets the requirements of the Local Plan.

Affordable Housing

• Affordable Housing practice note (pdf, 1.4MB) (opens new window)
• Build to Rent: Addendum to Affordable Housing practice note  (pdf, 492KB) (opens new window)
• Delivery of First Homes in Bristol: Addendum to Affordable Housing practice note (pdf, 348KB) (opens new window)

Local Plan standards

• Government's Housing Standards Review: Operation of Bristol Local Plan policies (pdf, 458KB) (opens new window)
• Space Standards Practice Note March 2021 (pdf, 327KB) (opens new window)

Other documents

• Broadband Connectivity practice note (pdf, 212KB) (opens new window)
• Climate change and sustainability practice note (pdf, 634KB) (opens new window)
• Flood risk sequential test practice note (pdf, 1.6MB) (opens new window)
• Assessing the health impacts of development practice note (pdf, 315KB) (opens new window)
• Waste and recycling: collection and storage facilities (pdf, 504KB) (opens new window)
• A guide to cycle parking provision guidance (pdf, 264KB) (opens new window)
• Marketing guidelines for a change of use planning application (pdf, 36KB) (opens new window)
• Travel plan guide for new developments
• Bristol City Council Transport Department Schedule of Fees 2021 to 2022 (pdf, 132KB) (opens new window)

Public realm strategies

These have extra guidance about the design of streets and spaces in parts of Bristol:

• Draft City Centre Public Realm and Movement Framework (pdf, 19.3MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 19.3MB) (opens new window)
• Nelson Street Public Realm Strategy (pdf, 9MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 9MB) (opens new window)

Bristol Tree Replacement Standard

Guidance on the Bristol Tree Replacement Standard can be found in the following documents:

• Core Strategy: BCS9 Green Infrastructure (pdf, 5.5MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 5.5MB) (opens new window)
• Planning obligations Supplementary planning document (page 20) (pdf, 1.4MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 1.4MB) (opens new window)