Cabe at the Design Council and the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) have announced that they will be joining forces to scale up the free Local Plan Panel Review service for local authorities.
CABE writes
Cabe has provided the services to 123 local authorities over the past five years, and the partnership with the Planning Advisory Service will mean that the number of sessions offered annually will increase. The new service will represent a more complete offer to local authorities who are looking to get up to date plans in place quickly, and create well designed and successful places while adapting to the new planning system.
The Local Plan Panel Review helps local authorities progress with their plans and embed good quality design and place-making into their documents. The review is a one-on-one working session between the local authority and a panel of experts from Cabe’s new Built Environment Experts network and PAS representatives. During the review the expert panel provides peer support, critical friend feedback and discussion about how to really think about ‘place’ in the development of local plans. It is an opportunity for local authorities to get free expert advice, test their ideas and reflect on the future direction of emerging plans.
Traditionally Cabe’s focus has been on place-making, quality, and design in planning. The Planning Advisory Service, part of the Local Government Association, provides support to help local authorities implement planning reform measures, with an emphasis on delivering local plans. By teaming up, the two organisations will support local authorities to deliver plans, emphasising good design and place-making.
Nahid Majid, Director of the Cabe team at the Design Council, commented: ‘Cabe is really pleased to have joined forces with the Planning Advisory Service so that we can provide more Local Plan Panel Review sessions. Our work supporting local authorities has always been well received, but in partnership we have even greater scope to create successful and engaging places.’
Adam Dodgson, Principal Consultant at the Planning Advisory Service, commented: ‘Working in partnership with Cabe means we can help more local authorities to get their plans in place. We’re excited about the potential for our collaboration and know that our representatives will add real value to the work of Cabe’s Built Environment Experts’
Richard Bryant, Principal Planner at Chesterfield Borough Council, commented on participating in a recent Local Plan Panel Review: ‘Chesterfield were impressed with how effectively the process managed to engage with the projects and their contexts. Cabe and the Planning Advisory Service were supportive and good-humoured whilst being penetrative and original.’
Contact: Tim Crowley, Head of Communications, Design Council: 020 7420 5263 / 07748 906897; tim.crowley@designcouncil.org.uk or Dale Atkinson, Planning Advisory Service: 020 7664 3283; dale.atkinson@local.gov.uk
Design Council News: LINK
