As part of the National Model Design Code testing programme, Herefordshire Council has been awarded £50,000 to test the ability of design coding to be integrated into the neighbourhood planning process.

The testing programme expected outcomes are:
• To understand how the relationship between design codes and neighbourhoods plans work in practice,
• To understand how the online community engagement techniques can facilitate local design codes,
• To establish an intended hierarchy of design codes across the county
• To translate the National Model Design Code into locally rural based templates and guidance notes to assist communities to produce their own design codes

To undertake this testing four pilot areas have been selected and the following parish councils will be working with officers:
• Bartestree
• Eywas Harold
• Fownhope
• Weobley

To undertake the testing programme the grant funding will be utilised as follow:
• Officer time spent on the testing programme
• Upgrade to design and illustration ICT software to assist production of design guidance material
• Online consultation package to test consultation methods with pilot parish councils
• Materials and costs associated with parish consultation events such as village hall hire and display printing
• Locally based artist to produce locally distinctive illustrations for inclusion within the Herefordshire design guidance material