Design codes process evaluation: Privacy notice
Published 7 April 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/design-codes-process-evaluation-privacy-notice/design-codes-process-evaluation-privacy-notice
1. The identity and contact details of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and our Data Protection Officer
MHCLG is the data controller. The Data Protection Officer can be contacted at dataprotection@communities.gov.uk
2. What personal data we are collecting and why
Your personal data is being collected to inform MHCLG’s research into the implementation of local design codes. Design codes are a set of definitive, measurable and illustrated design requirements for the physical development of a site or area, that will inform decision-making. This research is to understand user experience with design codes, how they are being monitored and whether they are having their intended effect. This will be multi-year research to study the longer-term impacts of local authority-led design codes.
This may include participation in interviews, surveys, workshops, or case study activity as part of the research. Expressions of interest in participating in one form of research will not be considered implicit interest in participating in other forms of research. It will be made clear with you the purposes for which you are being contacted to participate (e.g. survey, case studies etc.) and you will only be approached about participating for that purpose/those purposes to which you have consented.
The following personal data is being collected for this purpose: Names, email addresses, and job titles.
We will use it to contact you about participating in subsequent stages of our research and may use it to inform you about future opportunities to support MHCLG’s work on updates to national design policy and/or guidance.
3. Lawful basis for processing the data
The data protection legislation sets out when we are lawfully allowed to process your data. The lawful basis that applies to this processing is Article 6 (1)(e) of UK GDPR: processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
4. With whom we will be sharing the data
Your personal data will be processed by Verian (the data processor), the research specialists commissioned by MHCLG to carry out this research. Your personal data will not be shared with any other parties and will not be published.
5. For how long we will keep the personal data, or criteria used to determine the retention period
Your personal data will be held by Verian for no longer than 3 months following the conclusion of the research (31 October 2026). You may however request that Verian delete it sooner than this date. To request deletion, please contact Katie.Golden@veriangroup.com and Compliance@veriangroup.com.
At the conclusion of the research (31 October 2026), personal data will be securely transferred from Verian to MHCLG, who will retain it for 8 months to enable us to contact you for the next annual survey (May 2027). At this point, we will reissue a privacy notice in relation to data retention for the 2028 annual survey. If at any point you wish for your data to be deleted, please contact designquality@communities.gov.uk.
6. Your rights, e.g. access, rectification, erasure
The data we are collecting is your personal data, and you have rights that affect what happens to it. You have the right to:
- know that we are using your personal data
- see what data we have about you
- ask to have your data corrected, and to ask how we check the information we hold is accurate -complain to the ICO (see below)
In specific circumstances, participants may also have the right to:
- withdraw consent for the processing of their data,
- request the deletion of all data held about them, or
- object to particular types of data processing.
We will tell you when these rights apply.
7. Sending data overseas
Your personal data will not be sent overseas. Verian comply with UK GDPR and all of the data they collect is stored only in the UK/ EU/ EEA.
8. Automated decision making
We will not use your data for any automated decision making.
9. Storage, security and data management
Your personal data will be stored in Verian’s secure system. This restricts access to files containing personal data as an extra security measure and only persons within the direct project team at Verian have access to any personal data.
10. Complaints and more information
When we ask you for information, we will keep to the law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018.
If you are unhappy with the way the Department has acted, you can make a complaint.
If you want to make a request to access your data, or another request in relation to your rights, or if you are not happy with how we are using your personal data, you can contact dataprotection@communities.gov.uk
If you still have a concern about the way in which MHCLG has handled your personal data you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office to make a complaint using their website service or by telephoning 0203 123 1113. Further information about your data protection rights can also be found on the Commissioner’s website.