Building regulations permissions

Design Statement

A design statement is a document explaining the reasoning behind a proposal and how its layout, appearance, materials and context have informed the design.

It may accompany a planning or listed building application where written explanation helps the authority understand the proposal beyond the drawings alone. The City of Edinburgh Council's Edinburgh Design Guidance sets out the design considerations used when assessing development within the city.

For an Edinburgh historic property, a statement can describe the building’s character, the significance of affected fabric and how proposed interventions respond to their setting. Historic Environment Scotland's guidance on managing change in the historic environment provides further guidance on assessing significance and approaching alterations to historic buildings and places.

The document should be specific to the project rather than generic design language. It needs to connect the design decisions to the actual site, relevant constraints and submitted drawings.

Property types

Commonly found in

Tenement Georgian Townhouse Victorian Villa Terraced House Traditional Cottage Georgian Flat Converted Flat Detached House Semi-detached House

Building glossary

Related building terms

Contract Administrator Specification Schedule of Works Technical Drawings Planning Drawings Design Statement Existing and Proposed Drawings Measured Survey Architectural Drawings Architect

Guides & advice

Related guides

Building Warrant Edinburgh Guide | City of Edinburgh Council Process Explained

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