In a move presaged in recent political statements, England’s Government has announced the transfer of architecture policy function from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) adding weight to the the public roles of architecture, but significantly reducing the critical mass of heritage interests in DCMS, a change emphasised by the re-location of the national property portfolio to the newly non-governmental organisation (NGO) English Heritage.
The Design Council writes:
Design Council welcomes the transfer of architecture policy function from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport(DCMS) to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as a positive move in its mission to promote high-quality design in the built environment. DCLG will now be responsible for promoting high-quality design in the built environment.
Clare Devine, Director of Architecture and the Built Environment at Design Council, said: “This is a practical step which we wholeheartedly welcome. Given that the department already looks after the means to deliver good quality places – the planning system, local government finance and the Community Rights programmes – it is a positive move to bring these together.”
For the past 15 years, Design Council has worked closely with DCLG and departments across Whitehall to deliver better outcomes through the planning system.
Devine continued: “We hope this move will mean that the delivery of high-quality places moves up the agenda across government. We urge any incoming government to ensure the Minister for Planning and Housing, with this new brief, has a seat in Cabinet.”
