Introduction
When you create a web page, you are choosing how to stack different sections (known as “layouts”) on top of each other.
These layouts are powerful, but they are not meant to be used at random. Customers come to Local Council websites to complete tasks or find answers, not to browse in the way they would on commercial websites.
Layouts are communication tools, not decoration. Use them to:
- Guide the customer
- Structure your content
- Support your message
When our layouts are used with care, they help turn a page from a collection of sections into a clear and useful customer experience.
Why this matters
People rarely read a web page from start to finish. They:
- Scan quickly
- Look for key information
- Decide within seconds if the page is useful
Large or unnecessary images can:
- Push important content further down
- Break reading flow
- Increase page load time, especially in rural or low bandwidth areas
A well-structured page helps people:
- Find what they need faster
- Understand your message more clearly
- Take the next step (for example, applying for something, or contacting you)
A poorly structured page can feel confusing, overwhelming, unhelpful or repetitive.
Start with the customer journey
Before adding any layouts, think about the person visiting your page.
Ask yourself:
- Why are they here?
- What are they trying to do?
- What information do they need first?
Then plan your page as a simple journey:
- Introduce what the page is about
- Explain the key information
- Support it with more detail
- Guide the customer to what to do next
Think in sections, not blocks
Each layout is a section with a job to do. Instead of picking layouts because they look good, choose them based on what they help you to say to your customer.
For example:
- A header introduces the page
- A text section explains something important
- A banner highlights a particular area of interest
- A navigation section groups relevant links together
- A call to action banner gives the customer quick access to an action
Each section should have a clear purpose, not just decorative, and answer a question the customer might have.
Avoid random layout choices
Using too many different layouts, or placing them for purely decorative reasons, can:
- Make the page feel messy
- Repeat the same information
- Confuse customers
Before adding a new section, ask:
- Does this add new, useful information?
- Does it help the customer perform a task?
- Is it in the right priority order?
If not, consider removing or simplifying it.
Keep it simple and consistent
You do not need to use every available layout.
In fact, most good pages:
- Use a small number of layout types
- Repeat patterns from other pages on the website (so the page feels familiar)
- Keep spacing and structure consistent
This makes the page easier to follow and less tiring to read.
A quick checklist
Before publishing your page, check:
- Does the page follow a clear top-to-bottom journey?
- Is the most important information near the top?
- Does each section have a clear purpose?
- Are you avoiding repetition?
- Is there a clear next step for the customer?
Writing good quality content
Visit our Content guidance for more information on how to plan and write your content.
See examples of the available layouts
Visit our Layout Options page to see the types of layouts we have available to choose from.