C
Integration of design review with other design quality tools
A design review panel session is not a stand-alone process . If local authorities want to benefit from a better-designed built environment they should develop a range of initiatives to make them a design-led local authority. • This starts with pro-active plan-making, ensuring that design and place- making is at the heart of your local plans and planning documents, not just in separate policies • Skills are important, and basic design training for officers and members can build knowledge and confidence. The Design Review Panel can help with this • Leadership is key, and place-making should not be seen simply as the preserve of particular departments or divisions but a key concern right up to Chief Executive and Leader level • Initiatives like local design awards can underline the message that the authority is committed to good design and can be run at virtually no cost to the council. For example Plymouth City Council holds the Abercrombie awards, which we support • Th e local authority as a developer of public buildings, streets and spaces should ensure that its procurement processes have design , and independent design review, at their heart
D
Establishing a design dialogue through follow-up reviews
Once a design review panel session has taken place it is important that there is a process for analysing the Panel's feedback document and making sure that the scheme promoters respond to the feedback . We suggest that t he opinions of The Design Review Panel, along with how the applicant ha s subsequently responde d, should be reported in planning application reports. If a review takes place once an application has been submitted for planning, the report may be included in the application documents. From time-to-time we meet with senior officers to review how design review is working for their authority , and we take on board any feedback given to ensure the process continues to add value for the local authority.
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