Championing good practice for design in the historic environment through digital storytelling

DIA were commissioned by Historic England to produce a design code for a geographically dispersed building type, the historic weaving mills of Pendle Borough. This was a pilot study to explore whether a typology could be identified and a set of design parameters, or codes, applied to help developers, owners, local authorities, and local communities achieve sustainable development.

Working closely with Historic England and Pendle Borough Council, we explored the typologies, issues and opportunities associated with this significant building type, which helped to power the Industrial Revolution in North West England.

Design codes are advocated for nationally by the Government to guide large- and small-scale development schemes, providing clarity to developers and decision-makers. The Pendle Weaving Mill Design Code includes a design vision, contextual understanding, site surveys, and codes for micro and macro decision-making. These include strategic interventions, specific building types, scale, massing, materials, decarbonisation and character.

The pioneering design code has been delivered as a web-based app to maximise accessibility and encourage public engagement. Spatial mapping anchors the sites within their context, interactive sketches create a continuous visual narrative, and photographs of national exemplar schemes offer practical references for stakeholders. This digital format illustrates how DIA is leading the way in digital planning for heritage, blending conservation expertise with cutting-edge digital tools to empower clients.

Read the Pendle Weaving Mills Design Code here.