Place Standard tool
The Place Standard tool is a way of assessing places. Whether the place is well-established, undergoing change, or is still being planned, the tool can help you.
The Place Standard tool provides a simple framework to structure conversations about place, based around 14 questions. It allows you to think about the physical elements of a place (such as the buildings, spaces, and transport ) as well as the social aspects (like whether people feel they have a say in decision making).
The tool provides prompts for discussions, allowing you to consider all the elements of a place in a methodical way. The tool pinpoints the assets of a place as well as areas where a place could improve.
New! - the Place Standard tool with Climate Lens
A new Climate Lens is now available for the Place Standard tool. This new resource offers the opportunity to consider climate change and how it will impact on health and wellbeing and Scotland’s places.
Good place-making is essential for designing a robust local response to the climate emergency, such as taking local action to cut emissions and to increase resilience to local climate change impacts. The climate lens can help you to consider how the impacts and influence of climate change will play out in a local area
Place Standard tool Children and Young Peoples’ Versions
Two new versions of the Place Standard tool have been developed to support children and young people participating in conversations about their places, assessing the quality of their places and identifying change and improvement. Both tools have been adapted and developed by Play Scotland and A Place in Childhood in consultations with children and young people.
Place Standard Design Version
The Place Standard tool Design Version is a complementary addition to the original Place Standard tool. It provides a method through which the Place Standard can directly inform the emerging design of a development or a place. It supports users to structure design considerations, discussions and decision-making around an emerging development proposal, based on holistic place-based thinking.
Based on the same 14 Place Standard themes, the Design Version organises these into 5 overarching categories and uses design-orientated focus areas and detailed prompts that are referenced to urban design principles and linked to Scottish Government national design policies and guidance.
The Design Version offers the flexibility to suit different stages in the design and development processes; from high level design brief through to concept design and detailed design.
The tool can be used by anyone with an interest or stake in the development process, in particular, developers (and commissioners of developments), spatial planners, urban designers, architects, landscape architects, transport planners; as well as planners in local authority planning and development management teams.
Place Standard Case Studies
This series of case studies from Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) illustrates how the Place Standard tool has been used in a variety of ways and at a range of scales to inform spatial planning community planning, design and development.
The practitioners and organisations featured in the case studies explain their reason for using the tool, the methods they applied, their approach to empowering local communities and the impact this has had. They also share their perceptions of the tool, the knowledge gained in using it as well as any valuable lessons learned and worth sharing with others.
Place Standard Learning Resource
The Place Standard tool is simple and easy to use. However, for some groups or organisations who may wish more in-depth knowledge of the tool, a really useful learning resource has been created by Public Health Scotland. The aim of this learning resource is to enable users to understand and practically apply the Place Standard tool in a variety of contexts, through helpful tools and templates.
This resource extends to any group looking to undertake a Place Standard assessment and has primarily been designed with community and third sector groups and organisations in mind. You'll be prompted to login or create an account in order to use the tool.
Place Standard Strategy
The implementation of the Place Standard is guided by a strategic plan.
The plan sets a vision for how the Place Standard tool can build on its successes to date and support place-based working across Scotland.
It aims to ensure that the views, stories and real life experiences of people living in a particular place are captured, valued and integrated into the heart of decision-making processes
Place Standard Tool Inclusive Communication Toolkit
Inclusive communication includes as many people as possible in any communication and through any channel – in person, on the phone, online or on paper. This guide and the resources further down on the page will help you access this in an effective way.