The quality of the places we live in has an impact on all aspects of life. How well they are designed will influence how safe we feel, how easy it is to walk round, whether we have shops, community facilities and schools nearby, whether our children have safe places to play. It will also effect whether there is good access to public transport and a good choice of homes in which to live. It is essential that the places we create and improve embody the principles of good urban design.

Good urban design is essential to deliver places which are sustainable on all counts: places that create social, environmental and economic value. Ensuring that places are well designed should be a priority of everyone involved in shaping and maintaining the built environment.