CABE is to be wound up ‘in its present form’ by March 2011 following the loss of its DCMS funding.
Statement from CABE:
On 20 October, the Government decided as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review to withdraw funding from CABE. This will take effect from April 2011.
While CABE has not been abolished, the withdrawal of funding means that the organisation in its present form must be wound up by the end of March next year.
We were bitterly disappointed by this decision; but are now working with Government and others to try to find a way to ensure the kind of expert, impartial design advice for which CABE has been known remains available to councils, communities and developers across the country.
Meantime, CABE remains the government’s statutory advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. We are continuing to conduct design review and to deliver many of our programmes.
During the next month, for example, CABE will publish a new report on the design of supermarket-led development. This draws on 30 major supermarket schemes which we have reviewed and offers practical advice to help local planning teams balance the commercial imperatives of a major retailer with the need to create well-designed places.
We are also launching a guide for community groups thinking about taking on the ownership and management of local parks and public spaces. We are celebrating the 2010 Building for Life Awards, which have been selected from a record number of housing developments achieving the Building for Life Standard this year and running design workshops with a range of volume housebuilders.
If you have questions about the work we are undertaking with your organisation, or events you are coming to, then please get in touch with your normal contact or phone the CABE switchboard on 020 7070 6700.
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