Design Review: How it works
What is it?
The Urban Vision Design Review Panel has been set up to provide a forum for discussion and debate upon significant development proposals within North Staffordshire, providing a unique opportunity for developers and regeneration partners to seek expert advice and guidance. The Design Review Panel currently comprises 26 members headed by the chair, Ted Cullinan. The panel members all have extensive knowledge and experience in the various disciplines of the built environment including architecture, urban design, planning, landscape architecture and the arts.
For a full panel list and brief biographies of the panel members see here.
The design review panel was set up following a study of similar panels operated by Kent Architecture Centre, Liverpool City Council and CABE. Since its first meeting in October 2004 it has met on 32 occasions and has helped raise the quality of many significant planning applications in North Staffordshire.
What does it do?
The Design Review Panel considers a variety of applications from all of the local authorities in North Staffordshire, these consist of a mixture of preliminary schemes and current planning applications. A typical Design Review Panel meeting considers three or four separate proposals and begins with a series of site visits before returning to the Urban Vision offices at the School of Art in Burslem for a presentation by the applicant and a question and answer session.
The Panel also increasingly acts at a more strategic level, reviewing consultation and draft Area Action Plans, master plans, briefs for significant development proposals and public realm strategies within the region. By way of example, the Design Review Panel has recently provided technical advice on the shortlisted entries in the Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Public Realm Competition and we are looking to extend the panels involvement in this arena. Following the Panel’s meeting a concise report is produced covering a variety of aspects and highlights recommended actions for the applicant to consider.
You can read our archived reports here.
Following this experience some applications repeat the cycle with improved and modified schemes in accordance with previous recommendations, ensuring that the Design Review Panel aid them through the evolution of their scheme.The Design Review Panel is also able to offer support at planning hearings and inquiries when schemes have previously been considered, ensuring support and an aftercare service.
The panel is facilitated by Urban Vision, but it is independent and its views are those of the panel alone, as one applicant stated:
" The strength of the Design Review Panel is that it is independent with free thinking panel members who are prepared to challenge both the developer’s proposals as well as the planning departments’ response."
When is it?
The Design Review Panel sits on the third Thursday of each month. However, as a result of the increased number of schemes that we have been asked to consider and the greater strategic use of the Panel we also now offer occasional 'Interim' Design Review Panels to look at proposals with an imminent planning deadline or to consider large schemes or documents that require additional time for consideration.
For a timetable of future Design Review Panel meetings look here.
Return to Design Review Panel Overview