Policies/Guidance: Planning Guidance: South Cambridgeshire District Council

Update: In May 2006, South Cambridgeshire District Council issued a Public Art Strategy and Developer Guidance for Arbury Park, 'Making Visible the Invisible'. Arbury Park is a new housing development in the north of Cambridge.

Follow this link to download the Public Art Strategy as an Adobe Acrobat format document: 46Kb

South Cambridgeshire District Council approved a Public Art Policy for the district in early 2004. It comprises Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled 'Public Art: A Guide for Developers', giving the full guidance, backed up by a relatively succinct core policy. The two documents are published here by kind permission of South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Further details: Andy O'Hanlon, Arts Development Officer, South Cambridgeshire District Council. Tel: 01954 713343
Email: Andy.OHanlon@scambs.gov.uk; Website: www.scambs.gov.uk

Follow this link to download the Policy document as a Rich Text Format document: 105Kb

Reproduced by kind permission of South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Appendix 2

South Cambridgeshire District Council

PUBLIC ART: A GUIDE FOR DEVELOPERS

1. Introduction

2. This document forms part of the Council's 'Public Art Policy for South Cambridgeshire' and provides guidance for developers.

3. The aim of South Cambridgeshire District Council's public art policy is:

to promote artistic activity through the creation of new and original art work
to promote a high quality and well-designed environment, valued by those who live and work in or visit the District.
to promote participation and involvement in the arts and our environment

4. Policy Context

5. The involvement of artists in the design of the built environment is widely acknowledged as good practice. Many buildings, public spaces and landscapes within South Cambridgeshire benefit from artistic interventions that enhance interest in the environment.

6. In determining applications for new development the council will seek the contribution of an agreed percentage of the total development costs for the provision or commissioning of publicly accessible art, craft and design works.

7. A mechanism, known as percent for art, exists to support funding for public art work. Percent for art aims to improve the environment and enhance public spaces. The mechanism is widely applied in Europe and the United States and in 21 states and 100 cities this is by law. In England it can be linked with legislation:

The Local Government Act 1972, Section 45 that allows for the development and improvement of the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts and crafts.
The local Development Framework - a local planning authority can encourage the provision of new works of art as part of the developmental process. The Council may include a policy in its Local Development Framework, which would be supported by a Supplementary Planning Document.
The Town and Country Planning Act of 1990, Section 106, gives local authorities express power over 'restricting or regulating the development of land' for example landscaping to include visual features i.e. artworks.

8. The Public Art Policy for South Cambridgeshire declares:

"The Council would will encourage by negotiation expect the elements of the development involving the artists' input to constitute a significant part of the scheme; typically it will seek between 1% and 5% of the associated construction costs of the capital project. Precise plans and budgets should be agreed in association with the Council's officers prior to planning approval."

9. It may, however, be more appropriate to set a provisional sum without reference to the overall budget. The real figure will vary depending on the extent to which artists' contributions can be realized from existing components of the budget. An example of this would be an artist-designed alternative paving scheme for a courtyard, or new street furniture. Such elements will already have a capital cost, which could contribute to percent for art.

10. In schemes involving landscaping the percent for art mechanism will be additional to normal landscaping requirements and schemes should be worked up in full consultation with Landscape Architects.

11. Purpose of Guide for Developers

12. The purpose of this guidance is to provide practical information on how to support the District Council's Public Art Policy and to give an indication of the objective criteria against which the Council will review contributions put forward by developers in association with their planning applications.

13. In determining applications for major new development the council will seek the contribution of an agreed percentage of the total development costs for the provision or commissioning of publicly accessible art, craft and design works.

14. What public art provision involves

15. Public art should be integrated into the development from the earliest planning stages, so as to include the highest quality interventions for art, craft in the design and development process.

16. The provision of public art should result in a work of art or a contribution by an artist and/or craftsperson, which complements the overall objectives of the development. Larger schemes may involve commissioning a number of different artists.

17. South Cambridgeshire District Council expects the work to be appropriate to the scheme and its location, both in terms of public usage and design context. The work should be visible by, and accessible to, the public and should remain on site permanently or for an agreed period of time.

18. The work or contribution is likely to be commissioned and created specifically for the development. In many cases it will be developed in collaboration with the architect or designer and in consultation with the users of the site.

19. The approach adopted will vary from scheme to scheme depending on its nature, design, scale and end use. These are some of the options:

An overall design for large-scale developments produced by a selected artist or artists, bringing together elements of the scheme in a coherent way.
An integrated or functional element (e.g. lighting, landscape, floor designs and signage)
A temporary work such as a performance or installation
An iconic or 'landmark' work by an artist (e.g. a sculpture)

'Public Art' refers to any contribution by artists in a publicly accessible location and encompasses:

landscape design, tree planting and mazes
painting, sculpture, ceramic, prints, mixed media and artist in residence schemes
brickwork, terracotta and patterned tiling or slates
doors, gates, engraved and stained glass
lighting, metalwork, tapestries and carpets
wood and stone letter carving, banners and original graphics
seating, bollards, railings, clocks and boundary features

20. Public 'ownership' of the resultant art is important for its long-term acceptance and life. In some projects community involvement in the design and realisation of the artwork (under the direction of an artist skilled at working with groups of people) may assist in the community taking ownership of the artwork and thereby reducing the risk of vandalism or wanton damage .

21. The Council's preference is for public art to be fully integrated into development proposals.

22. Eligibility

23. The Council will seek the provision of public art in the following types of development:

a. Residential developments comprising 10 or more dwellings.

b. Other developments where the floor space to be built is 1000m2 gross or more (or where the site area is 0.5ha or more), including office, manufacturing, warehousing and retail developments

24. On smaller developments encouragement will be given to developers to seek to include Public Art within their scheme as a means of enhancing the quality of their development.

25. Cost

26. The value of public art within the development will ideally be between 1% and 5% of associated construction costs of a capital project.

27. The precise amount will be determined either by the developer providing a detailed written estimate of the building costs or by the application of a nationally recognised building price index.

28. Expenditure on public art can cover the following:

Artist recruitment and selection
Artists fees and fabrication
Specialist advice and project management
Linked education programmes
Installation and maintenance
Management of the completed work

29. If it is not feasible or appropriate to spend the allocation on the development site the Council will accept a commuted sum via a planning obligation. The use of commuted sums will be considered and allocated, where possible, to related arts projects that will benefit users of the development site. Alternatively, the sums may be commuted to related projects managed by the District Council, for example, a public art training programme for local artists.

30. In this eventuality the Council will inform the developers of the end use of the sum and will credit the developer accordingly.

31. Developers may be able to secure external funding to enhance their contribution, for example by applying for grant aid. Details of possible grant sources can be obtained from the Council's arts office.

32. Considerations

33. In considering Public Art Policy proposals, the Council intends to be flexible in the way in which its public art policy can be satisfied. This will depend on the type and scale of project but will always include the following:

Appropriateness to public usage and design context
Demonstration of good practice with particular reference to project management and equal opportunities
Linked education programmes
Care and maintenance costs
Other costs associated with the development
Whether provision would prejudice other planning objectives warranting greater priority in the particular case.

34. Methodology

35. Experience shows that the artist should be commissioned at the earliest stage of project development. For large projects it is recommended that the artist be employed to work as a member of the design team. If included at the earliest stages the artist will be able to fully contribute to the aesthetics of the construction project. This may be through the arrangement of spaces, the selection of materials and/or determining the nature and siting of the works of art to be integrated in the development.

36. The key to a successful Public Art project is to plan for the involvement of artists at the earliest opportunity in the development process, ensuring that any costs are considered as part of the process and that alternatives to a financial contribution are fully explored:

37. In submitting details for outline planning permission, the following information will be sought:

Outline proposal for the involvement of artists
Demonstration of how the scheme will contribute to the quality of the environment and the community
Outline of the intended procurement process
Budget allocation
Proposals for future care and maintenance

38. At full planning permission stage, or reserved matters stage, the following information will be sought:

Detailed proposal for the involvement of artists
Demonstration of contribution to the environment and the community
Description of the commissioning process with a report on tasks already completed
Budget details
Details for future care and maintenance

39. Proposals will, in general, be dealt with by the Council's Development and Conservation Control Committee as a material consideration in determining the application.

40. If however, the proposals are felt to be of particular significance, they may be referred to others for advice, prior to formal consideration by the Council.

41. Advice and Assistance

42. Preliminary advice and assistance will be provided by your case officer.

43. Detailed advice on the implementation of Public Art can be provided by:

The Arts Development Officer
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Cambourne Business Park
Cambourne
Cambridge
CB3 6EA

01954 713343

andy.ohanlon@scambs.gov.uk

The Conservation Manager
(address as above)

nick.grimshaw@scambs.gov.uk

44. A list of public art agencies that operate locally can be obtained from the Arts Development Officer.

45. Other Considerations

4.6 There may be circumstances where a freestanding artwork may require a separate planning permission. It is advisable to check with the Planning Department at an early stage in the development process.

4.7 Where Public Art is not identified as part of the approved plans, planning conditions may be added to require details of the artwork provision to be submitted to the local authority prior to commencement on site. Alternatively, where a developer proposes to contribute to provision off-site or intends to hand over the management of public spaces to a third party, an agreement may be entered into under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, to contribute an equivalent sum to the Council for the creation of a work on an appropriate site.


Skip to content home PASW news current practice - overview - collaboration - policies/ guidance - courses - sculpture trails practical advice case studies publications viewpoints links archive contact about the site	Policies/Guidance: Planning Guidance: South Cambridgeshire District Council Update: In May 2006, South Cambridgeshire District Council issued a Public Art Strategy and Developer Guidance for Arbury Park, 'Making Visible the Invisible'. Arbury Park is a new housing development in the north of Cambridge. Follow this link to download the Public Art Strategy as an Adobe Acrobat format document: 46Kb South Cambridgeshire District Council approved a Public Art Policy for the district in early 2004. It comprises Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled 'Public Art: A Guide for Developers', giving the full guidance, backed up by a relatively succinct core policy. The two documents are published here by kind permission of South Cambridgeshire District Council. Further details: Andy O'Hanlon, Arts Development Officer, South Cambridgeshire District Council. Tel: 01954 713343 Email: Andy.OHanlon@scambs.gov.uk; Website: www.scambs.gov.uk Follow this link to download the Policy document as a Rich Text Format document: 105Kb Reproduced by kind permission of South Cambridgeshire District Council. Appendix 2 South Cambridgeshire District Council PUBLIC ART: A GUIDE FOR DEVELOPERS 1. Introduction 2. This document forms part of the Council's 'Public Art Policy for South Cambridgeshire' and provides guidance for developers. 3. The aim of South Cambridgeshire District Council's public art policy is: to promote artistic activity through the creation of new and original art work to promote a high quality and well-designed environment, valued by those who live and work in or visit the District. to promote participation and involvement in the arts and our environment back to top 4. Policy Context 5. The involvement of artists in the design of the built environment is widely acknowledged as good practice. Many buildings, public spaces and landscapes within South Cambridgeshire benefit from artistic interventions that enhance interest in the environment. 6. In determining applications for new development the council will seek the contribution of an agreed percentage of the total development costs for the provision or commissioning of publicly accessible art, craft and design works. 7. A mechanism, known as percent for art, exists to support funding for public art work. Percent for art aims to improve the environment and enhance public spaces. The mechanism is widely applied in Europe and the United States and in 21 states and 100 cities this is by law. In England it can be linked with legislation: The Local Government Act 1972, Section 45 that allows for the development and improvement of the knowledge, understanding and practice of the arts and crafts. The local Development Framework - a local planning authority can encourage the provision of new works of art as part of the developmental process. The Council may include a policy in its Local Development Framework, which would be supported by a Supplementary Planning Document. The Town and Country Planning Act of 1990, Section 106, gives local authorities express power over 'restricting or regulating the development of land' for example landscaping to include visual features i.e. artworks. 8. The Public Art Policy for South Cambridgeshire declares: "The Council would will encourage by negotiation expect the elements of the development involving the artists' input to constitute a significant part of the scheme; typically it will seek between 1% and 5% of the associated construction costs of the capital project. Precise plans and budgets should be agreed in association with the Council's officers prior to planning approval." 9. It may, however, be more appropriate to set a provisional sum without reference to the overall budget. The real figure will vary depending on the extent to which artists' contributions can be realized from existing components of the budget. An example of this would be an artist-designed alternative paving scheme for a courtyard, or new street furniture. Such elements will already have a capital cost, which could contribute to percent for art. 10. In schemes involving landscaping the percent for art mechanism will be additional to normal landscaping requirements and schemes should be worked up in full consultation with Landscape Architects. back to top 11. Purpose of Guide for Developers 12. The purpose of this guidance is to provide practical information on how to support the District Council's Public Art Policy and to give an indication of the objective criteria against which the Council will review contributions put forward by developers in association with their planning applications. 13. In determining applications for major new development the council will seek the contribution of an agreed percentage of the total development costs for the provision or commissioning of publicly accessible art, craft and design works. 14. What public art provision involves 15. Public art should be integrated into the development from the earliest planning stages, so as to include the highest quality interventions for art, craft in the design and development process. 16. The provision of public art should result in a work of art or a contribution by an artist and/or craftsperson, which complements the overall objectives of the development. Larger schemes may involve commissioning a number of different artists. 17. South Cambridgeshire District Council expects the work to be appropriate to the scheme and its location, both in terms of public usage and design context. The work should be visible by, and accessible to, the public and should remain on site permanently or for an agreed period of time. 18. The work or contribution is likely to be commissioned and created specifically for the development. In many cases it will be developed in collaboration with the architect or designer and in consultation with the users of the site. 19. The approach adopted will vary from scheme to scheme depending on its nature, design, scale and end use. These are some of the options: An overall design for large-scale developments produced by a selected artist or artists, bringing together elements of the scheme in a coherent way. An integrated or functional element (e.g. lighting, landscape, floor designs and signage) A temporary work such as a performance or installation An iconic or 'landmark' work by an artist (e.g. a sculpture) 'Public Art' refers to any contribution by artists in a publicly accessible location and encompasses: landscape design, tree planting and mazes painting, sculpture, ceramic, prints, mixed media and artist in residence schemes brickwork, terracotta and patterned tiling or slates doors, gates, engraved and stained glass lighting, metalwork, tapestries and carpets wood and stone letter carving, banners and original graphics seating, bollards, railings, clocks and boundary features 20. Public 'ownership' of the resultant art is important for its long-term acceptance and life. In some projects community involvement in the design and realisation of the artwork (under the direction of an artist skilled at working with groups of people) may assist in the community taking ownership of the artwork and thereby reducing the risk of vandalism or wanton damage . 21. The Council's preference is for public art to be fully integrated into development proposals. back to top 22. Eligibility 23. The Council will seek the provision of public art in the following types of development: a. Residential developments comprising 10 or more dwellings. b. Other developments where the floor space to be built is 1000m2 gross or more (or where the site area is 0.5ha or more), including office, manufacturing, warehousing and retail developments 24. On smaller developments encouragement will be given to developers to seek to include Public Art within their scheme as a means of enhancing the quality of their development. 25. Cost 26. The value of public art within the development will ideally be between 1% and 5% of associated construction costs of a capital project. 27. The precise amount will be determined either by the developer providing a detailed written estimate of the building costs or by the application of a nationally recognised building price index. 28. Expenditure on public art can cover the following: Artist recruitment and selection Artists fees and fabrication Specialist advice and project management Linked education programmes Installation and maintenance Management of the completed work 29. If it is not feasible or appropriate to spend the allocation on the development site the Council will accept a commuted sum via a planning obligation. The use of commuted sums will be considered and allocated, where possible, to related arts projects that will benefit users of the development site. Alternatively, the sums may be commuted to related projects managed by the District Council, for example, a public art training programme for local artists. 30. In this eventuality the Council will inform the developers of the end use of the sum and will credit the developer accordingly. 31. Developers may be able to secure external funding to enhance their contribution, for example by applying for grant aid. Details of possible grant sources can be obtained from the Council's arts office. back to top 32. Considerations 33. In considering Public Art Policy proposals, the Council intends to be flexible in the way in which its public art policy can be satisfied. This will depend on the type and scale of project but will always include the following: Appropriateness to public usage and design context Demonstration of good practice with particular reference to project management and equal opportunities Linked education programmes Care and maintenance costs Other costs associated with the development Whether provision would prejudice other planning objectives warranting greater priority in the particular case. 34. Methodology 35. Experience shows that the artist should be commissioned at the earliest stage of project development. For large projects it is recommended that the artist be employed to work as a member of the design team. If included at the earliest stages the artist will be able to fully contribute to the aesthetics of the construction project. This may be through the arrangement of spaces, the selection of materials and/or determining the nature and siting of the works of art to be integrated in the development. 36. The key to a successful Public Art project is to plan for the involvement of artists at the earliest opportunity in the development process, ensuring that any costs are considered as part of the process and that alternatives to a financial contribution are fully explored: 37. In submitting details for outline planning permission, the following information will be sought: Outline proposal for the involvement of artists Demonstration of how the scheme will contribute to the quality of the environment and the community Outline of the intended procurement process Budget allocation Proposals for future care and maintenance 38. At full planning permission stage, or reserved matters stage, the following information will be sought: Detailed proposal for the involvement of artists Demonstration of contribution to the environment and the community Description of the commissioning process with a report on tasks already completed Budget details Details for future care and maintenance 39. Proposals will, in general, be dealt with by the Council's Development and Conservation Control Committee as a material consideration in determining the application. 40. If however, the proposals are felt to be of particular significance, they may be referred to others for advice, prior to formal consideration by the Council. back to top 41. Advice and Assistance 42. Preliminary advice and assistance will be provided by your case officer. 43. Detailed advice on the implementation of Public Art can be provided by: The Arts Development Officer South Cambridgeshire District Council Cambourne Business Park Cambourne Cambridge CB3 6EA 01954 713343 andy.ohanlon@scambs.gov.uk The Conservation Manager (address as above) nick.grimshaw@scambs.gov.uk 44. A list of public art agencies that operate locally can be obtained from the Arts Development Officer. 45. Other Considerations 4.6 There may be circumstances where a freestanding artwork may require a separate planning permission. It is advisable to check with the Planning Department at an early stage in the development process. 4.7 Where Public Art is not identified as part of the approved plans, planning conditions may be added to require details of the artwork provision to be submitted to the local authority prior to commencement on site. Alternatively, where a developer proposes to contribute to provision off-site or intends to hand over the management of public spaces to a third party, an agreement may be entered into under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, to contribute an equivalent sum to the Council for the creation of a work on an appropriate site. back to top © PASW 2008 - Copyright statement © PASW 2008. All content of www.publicartonline.org.uk is protected by copyright. Please do not reproduce material from the website without referring to our copyright statement, www.publicartonline.org.uk/about/copyright.html.	South Cambridgeshire District Council Index: Introduction Policy Context Purpose of the Guide What public art provision involves Eligibility Cost Considerations Methodology Advice and assistance Other considerations

Policies/Guidance: Planning Guidance: South Cambridgeshire District Council

South Cambridgeshire District Council Index: