CABE and eight regional design review panels have joined together to create a national network of design review panels. This will provide all local planning authorities with access to independent practical design advice. The network will collectively review more than 800 schemes a year.
CABE has supported regional design review panels since 2005 and affiliation formalises the relationship. It will ensure that the panels work closely together, and a consistent service is provided to developers and planners across England. Affiliation commits each organisation to observe key principles of design review, including a focus on the impact on those using a building or place and the public at large, as well as sharing the lessons from design review on a regular basis. This affiliation recognises the high-quality service provided by regional panels and it will ensure that more schemes benefit from the best possible design advice.
Richard Simmons, CABE chief executive, said that design review panels have proved themselves to be a great success story. He added: “Just one example is the Falmer Academy in Brighton, where the comments made by the South East regional design panel have resulted in a really imaginative planning application. This affiliation recognises the high-quality service provided by regional panels and it will ensure that more schemes benefit from the best possible design advice.”
The eight regional design review panels that have affiliated to CABE are those in the South East (run by the Kent Architecture Centre); the South West (run by Creating Excellence); the North East (run by Ignite); the North West (run by Places Matter!); the West Midlands (run by MADE); the East Midlands (run by Opun); the East of England (run by Inspire East); and Yorkshire and Humber (run by Integreat Yorkshire).
Affiliation will also contribute to the government’s commitment, as set out in World class places (the government’s strategy for improving quality of place) to strengthen advisory support on design quality for local authorities, the public sector and developers. The strategy, published in May, sets out to ensure that regional support for quality of place, including design review, is strengthened.
