These include workshops to engage the local community, design advice and review arrangements, and assessment frameworks such as Building for Life. These are of most benefit if used as early as possible in the evolution of schemes, and are particularly important for significant projects such as large scale housing and mixed use developments. In assessing applications, Local Planning Authorities should have regard to the outcome from these processes, including any recommendations made by design review panels.
As the Midlands Design Review Panel, we are best placed to provide the above service to Local Planning Authorities in the Midlands.
Benefits of Design Review
Design Review is beneficial in a number of ways, it can:
- Help to improve the design of a scheme to make it function better and be more user-friendly.
- Brings a breadth and depth of experience that may not be available to the project team or to the Local Planning Authority.
- Assists in solving problems by providing a fresh perspective on a scheme.
- Provides an opportunity for consultees to be engaged in a wider design led discussion on a scheme i.e. Historic England, County Highways, neighbouring LPA etc.
- Help to progress a scheme through the planning process. Support from the Midlands Design Review Panel, or demonstrating that a scheme has responded to the comments raised adds weight to a planning application.
