What does the Cookham Village Design Statement mean for me?

Click below to download the VDS, or visit the Parish Council Office or Cookham Library to read a paper version.

I am concerned about our green spaces

Whether you are interested in the history of Poundfield, woodlands and hedgerows, community use of green spaces, views painted by Stanley Spencer, or our diversified farm and land management businesses, the VDS describes what you will find in Cookham. It sets out guidance, advice and recommendations for the future development decisions by the relevant planning authority. Read chapter 4 in Part 1 of the VDS to find out more.

I live in the flood plain

The VDS describes the history of flooding in Cookham to 2013 in (Part 1, section 5). It explains, in simple terms, the water flows, flood defences and escape routes. It recommends flood resilience measures and gives advice on developer rights and responsibilities. For information on the 2014 floods, visit the Parish Council’s flood warnings blog spot by clicking here.

I am a developer

The Cookham Village Design Statement is a Supplementary Planning Document of the current Borough Local Plan and, in due course, the adopted version of the emerging update to the Local Plan ( Draft Borough Local Plan 2016 ). It contains a wealth of useful information about materials, colour palettes and boundaries to help you achieve a beautiful and compatible building.

Planning applications in breach of VDS guidance may be refused by the relevant planning authority.

I want to extend my home

Although many smaller extensions outside Green Belt or Conservation Areas can be built without planning permission under ‘permitted development’ rights, you will find the VDS full of information about good design, developed from extensive consultation with residents, landowners and visitors. Advice for extension builders is given in section 6 of Part 1. There is important information about hedgerows, fencing and trees in residential areas (6.22). Sustainable design recommendations are given in section 6.25. More general information about Cookham village is in Part 1, and for Cookham Rise and Cookham Dean in Part 2. Planning applications in breach of VDS guidance may be refused by the relevant planning authority.

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VDS part 2 - Cookham Rise and Cookham Dean (pdf, 2.6MB)

VDS part 1 - Contents, Cookham village (pdf, 3MB)

Village Design Statement

Cookham Parish Council