A design and access statement is required with the following types of application only:

1. Applications for major development, as defined in article 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure (England) Order 2015; 
2. Applications for development in a designated area, where the proposed development consists of:
•    one or more dwellings; or
•    a building or buildings with a floor space of 100 square metres or more.
3. Applications for listed building consent.

Exemptions

A design and access statement is not required for planning applications involving:

1. Permission to develop land without compliance with conditions previously attached, made pursuant to section 73 of the Act;
2. Engineering or mining operations;
3. A material change in the use of land or buildings - please note that for an application to convert a Building to residential use a Design and Access Statement will only be required where the building is in a conservation area or a listed building.

Guidance and links to further information

The design and access statement shall: 

1. Explain the design principles and concepts that have been applied to the development;
2. Demonstrate the steps taken to appraise the context of the development and how the design of the development takes that context into account;
3. Explain the policy adopted as to access, and how policies relating to access in relevant local development documents have been taken into account;
4. State what, if any, consultation has been undertaken on issues relating to access to the development and what account has been taken of the outcomes of any such consultation;
5. Explain how any specific issues which might affect access to the development have been addressed.