Design Review Principles and Practice Landscape Institute Inspiring great places Published in 2013 by the Design Council. Cover photo: Granary Square at King’s Cross, © John Sturrock All photos by Design Council unless otherwise stated. Although every care has been taken in preparing this report, no responsibility or liability will be accepted by Design Council, its employees, agents or advisors for its accuracy or completeness. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, copied or transmitted without the prior written consent of the publisher except that the material may be photocopied for non-commercial purposes without permission from the publisher. Contents Foreword 3 The purpose of this guidance document 4 Part One: Principles of Design Review Chapter 1: The essentials of Design Review 6 What is Design Review? 6 Ten principles of Design Review 7 Chapter 2: The role of Design Review in the planning system 8 Design Review and national planning policy 8 How Design Review adds value 9 Chapter 3: Who benefits from Design Review? 10 Local authorities 10 Developers 10 Project design teams 11 Community groups 11 Chapter 4: Local and National Design Review 12 Local Design Review arrangements 12 National Design Review 12 Who reviews what? 12 Part Two: Design Review in practice Chapter 5: Delivering the principles 14 Chapter 6: A robust Design Review process 23 Preparation 23 Review 25 Observers 26 Advice 27 Other practical matters 28 Useful contacts 29 Contents 1 William Gates Building, University of Cambridge, © RMJM Foreword Our standards of design can be so much higher. We are a nation renowned worldwide for creative excellence, yet, at home, confidence in development itself has been eroded by the too frequent experience of mediocrity.” Ministerial Foreword, National Planning Policy Framework Every new development has the potential to Practice following the assent of the Localism transform people’s quality of life, stimulate Act and publication of the National Planning the economy and enhance the environment. Policy Framework. It is aimed at anyone who Each year local authorities see thousands of is engaged in setting up or managing design new proposals which have the power to do review panels and anyone who receives just that, to create better quality places. their advice. It contains authoritative advice for design review panels of all types to help Design Review is a tried and tested method of them operate in a consistent way working to promoting good design and is a cost-effective the 10 principles for good Design Review, as and efficient way to improve quality. It offers set out on page 7. independent, impartial advice on the design of new buildings, landscapes and public spaces. Design review panels – groups of leading multidisciplinary built environment experts – Design Review is now an essential part of provide an independent, expert assessment the planning process. The publication of the of significant development proposals. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Well-managed design review panels help to re-iterated and reinforced the role of Design achieve high quality schemes that add value Review in ensuring high standards of design. to the places in which they are built. Panels Design Review also plays a vital role in helping operate across England at all levels and give local authorities meet their statutory duty access to all those using the planning system under the Planning Act 2008, ‘to have regard to high-quality independent design advice. to the desirability of achieving good design’. Put simply, Design Review promotes good The Design Council, Landscape Institute, quality developments that help create better Royal Institute of British Architects and Royal places and avoid the cost of poor design. Town Planning Institute have come together to update Design Review: Principles and John Mathers Sue Illman Angela Brady Dr Peter Geraghty Chief Executive President President President Design Council The Landscape Royal Institute of Royal Town Planning Institute British Architects Institute The purpose of this guidance document Design Review is a well-established way of improving the quality of design outcomes in the built environment, and it is now recognised in the National Planning Policy Design Review is Framework. This document provides a well-established practical advice to people who are running design review panels or are thinking of doing way of improving so. It will be of use to anyone who might wish to use the service, or just wants to know the quality of design more about it, particularly people in local authorities, design teams and their clients, or outcomes in the built community groups. Drawing on many years’ experience of delivering Design Review, it environment” sets out the standards of advice and service that panels should adopt, and that their users can expect. Toffee Factory, Newcastle © Jill Tate Newcastle © Jill Factory, Toffee 4 The purpose of this guidance document Part One: Principles of Design Review Chapter 1: The essentials of Design Review What is Design Review? Design Review Design Review is an independent and • is conducted by expert practitioners impartial evaluation process in which a with current experience in design and panel of experts on the built environment development, a record of good design assess the design of a proposal. The projects in their own projects and the skills to that Design Review deals with are usually appraise schemes objectively. of public significance, and the process is designed to improve the quality of buildings • offers feedback and observations that and places for the benefit of the public. will lead to the improvement of schemes, but does not redesign them. • gives decision makers the confidence and information to support innovative, high quality designs that meet the needs of their communities and customers, and to resist poorly designed schemes. Design Review is an independent and impartial evaluation process” © Ben Blossom 6 The essentials of Design Review Ten principles of Design Review For Design Review to succeed, it must be All Design Review is focused on outcomes carried out using a robust and defensible for people. It explores how a building or place process. It must also offer consistently can better meet the needs of the people high standards in the quality of its advice. who will use it and of everyone who will be These standards can be summarised in the affected by it. It does this by constructively following ten principles. endeavouring to improve the quality of architecture, urban design, landscape and highway design. Design Review is: Independent Proportionate It is conducted by people who are It is used on projects whose significance, unconnected with the scheme’s promoters either at local or national level, warrants the and decision makers, and it ensures that investment needed to provide the service. conflicts of interest do not arise. Timely Expert It takes place as early as possible in the It is carried out by suitably trained people design process, because this can avoid who are experienced in design and know a great deal of wasted time. It also costs how to criticise constructively. Review is less to make changes at an early stage. usually most respected where it is carried out by professional peers of the project designers, because their standing and Advisory expertise will be acknowledged. A design review panel does not make decisions, but it offers impartial advice for Multidisciplinary the people who do. It combines the different perspectives of architects, urban designers, urban and Objective rural planners, landscape architects, It appraises schemes according to engineers and other specialist experts to reasoned, objective criteria rather than the provide a complete, rounded assessment. stylistic tastes of individual panel members. Accountable Accessible The Review Panel and its advice must be Its findings and advice are clearly clearly seen to work for the benefit of the expressed in terms that design teams, public. This should be ingrained within the decision makers and clients can all panel’s terms of reference. understand and make use of. Transparent The panel’s remit, membership, governance processes and funding should always be in the public domain. The essentials of Design Review 7 Chapter 2 The role of Design Review in the planning system 1. National Planning Policy Framework Design Review and national planning policy To help them to make these judgements, (NPPF) March 2012 para 17. In March 2012 the Government published local authorities are expected to use https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/national-planning-policy- its National Planning Policy Framework Design Review. framework--2 (NPPF). This emphasises the importance of 2. NPPF para 56 sustainable development, and sets out 12 3. NPPF para 57 “Local planning authorities 4. NPPF paras 63-64 planning principles that should underpin both 5. NPPF para 62 plan-making and decision-making. should have local design review arrangements in place to The fourth of these principles is that provide assessment and support planning should: to ensure high standards of “always seek to secure high design. They should also where quality design and a good appropriate refer major projects standard of amenity for all for a national Design Review*. existing and future occupants of In general, early engagement land and buildings” 1 on design produces the greatest benefits. In assessing The NPPF stresses the importance that the applications, local planning Government puts on the design of the built authorities should have regard environment. Good design is a key aspect of sustainable development, indivisible to the recommendations from 5 from good planning, and should contribute the design review panel” positively to making places better for people.2 It is important to plan positively for *Currently provided by Design Council Cabe the achievement of high quality and inclusive design of all development.3 In determining applications, local planning authorities should give great weight to outstanding or innovative designs that help to raise the standard of design more generally in the area.