Newark Town Centre Design Code

Newark Town Centre Design Code Supplementary Planning Document

The Newark Town Centre Design Code aims to guide sustainable development within Newark's Conservation Area. With the preservation and enhancement of Newark’s rich historic identity being aided, and delivery of high-quality new developments in Newark Town Centre streamlined. This is a collaborative project between Historic England and the District Council, intended to test the Coding process within a complex heritage context. Allies & Morrison have been appointed to produce the document. 

Design Codes offer a set of illustrated design requirements that establish specific, detailed parameters for the physical development of a site or area. The intention is to provide clear rules and standards, while still allowing designers and developers the creativity and flexibility they need. The draft Code is divided into mandatory 'codes', which are requirements that development proposals must meet, and design 'guidance', which offers advisory recommendations.

The Design Code has been developed alongside the emerging Newark Town Centre Masterplan, which provides a high-level vision and framework for the future management of Newark Town Centre and identifies a range of potential future interventions. Whilst the Design Code will offer certainty over design expectations in the area and support design-led solutions to issues identified through the Masterplan.

It is intended that the Design Code will eventually be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document, making it a material consideration in decisions on planning applications.

First Stage Consultation (25th July – 12th September 2025)

  • Consultation Details

    The purpose of the first stage consultation is to collect the views of a professional, developer, architect, designer, landowner and stakeholder audience on the emerging Design Code SPD for Newark Town Centre. The input received will help the Council to refine the document and determine how best to take it forward. This will be followed by a second stage of full public consultation later in the year.

    Draft Newark Town Centre Design Code SPD (First Stage Consultation) (PDF File, 25,941kb)

    Comments Form [49kb]

    Comments can be made on the first stage consultation draft Design Code up to 5pm on 12th September 2025. This can be done using the form above, or in writing to:

    planningpolicy@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk

    Planning Policy & Infrastructure
    Newark & Sherwood District Council
    Castle House
    Great North Road
    Newark
    NG24 1BY

    Should you have any queries then please contact the Planning Policy & Infrastructure team using the details above, or by telephone on 01636 650 000.

  • Consultation Events

    As part of the first stage consultation, we will be running two events where consultees can learn more about the emerging Code and help test its contents. These events will be crucial to refining the Code, so developers, planning agents, architects, designers and landowners active within Newark Town Centre are encouraged to sign up. The events have been scheduled for:

    Consultation Event 1 (online): Wednesday 27th August 14:30-16:30

    Consultation Event 2 (in-person): Tuesday 2nd September 14:30-16:30

    Consultation Event 2 will be held at the District Council's Offices at Castle House and is limited to a capacity of 40 persons. Spaces for this event will be allocated on a first come first served basis. 

    If you are interested in attending one of the events then please email planningpolicy@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk, stating which event you wish to participate in.