Future development in a county will have to meet 15 new rules intended to set the highest building standards.
West Sussex County Council has laid out a new code of design principles covering issues ranging from density and materials to sustainability, use of lighting, signage and how public art and water features can enliven new development.
Lord Young of Graffham, who chaired the design commission which came up with the principles, said: "The West Sussex Design Principles are unique in that they encourage clear and broad-based thinking before the submission of a planning application. We are not telling developers or architects what to do or how to design."
The rules will be applied to all structures, not just buildings.
The council hopes they will change attitudes to development and ensure that builders, developers, architects, planners and other professionals know the type of standards the public expect to see.
The design principles can be viewed at www.westsussexdesign.org.uk.
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