Draft a design and access statement from your notes

Statements follow a familiar structure. AI can turn your notes into a clean first draft so you spend your time on the argument, not the formatting. You make the design case and check the policies; the AI only arranges your notes under the headings.

A free AI chat tool (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot or Claude)

Steps

1. Check the local planning authority’s validation list for whether a statement is needed for this application and what it must cover.
2. Write notes on site and context, the proposal, design rationale, access and materials, and list the policies you are relying on with their references.
3. Example (made up, for illustration only): for a single-storey rear extension in a conservation area, the notes cover the street and neighbouring buildings, why the roof form and brick were chosen, and level access from the garden. The draft uses those notes under each heading and marks a missing policy reference as [CHECK POLICY].
4. Run the prompt below, leaving out the address and the client’s name.
5. Check every fact, measurement and policy reference against the drawings and the current local plan yourself.
6. Rewrite the argument in your own words; you sign off what is submitted.

The exact prompt

Draft a design and access statement for [project type] at [site description, no address needed].
My notes: context [details], proposal [details], design rationale [details], materials [details], access [details], relevant policies I'm relying on [list].
Clear headings, formal [British] English, about [800] words. Don't invent policy numbers, measurements or site facts. Where my notes give no reference, write [CHECK POLICY]. Do not say the proposal complies with any policy.