Project Summary
The Design Review Panel was established in 2006 through a pilot project delivered by Beam. As a result of the success of the pilot project Beam was commissioned by Wakefield Council and Intergreat Yorkshire to carry on the Design Review Panel, building on the experience gained.

The remit of the Design Review Panel was described as follows:

To provide comment and advise and be a ‘critical friend’ on the urban design and architectural aspects of development proposals and emerging urban design policy to the Council and others engaged in the development process.
Aim: To raise the quality of design in Wakefield and to equip local authority officers and members with enhanced skills and tools to help deliver design quality.

“Wakefield Council believes that good design is good for business, regeneration and communities.”

Extract from Wakefield Council Design Review leaflet.

What did we do?
Meeting on a bi-monthly basis, the panel was made up of experts who had complementary skills so that there was a breadth of experience in design, both in terms of buildings and landscape, and development matters. Schemes for the panel were selected by the Planning Department. The Design Review presentations were preceded by a site visit to each scheme being reviewed (normally three), for panel members, chair and panel manager.

The session consisted of a presentation by scheme representatives, panel members were then invited to ask any questions or raise any initial comments with the presenters, leading into a discussion. A summary discussion by the Panel without the presenters of the scheme would then take place, to allow the Panel members to agree on their comments and recommendations for each scheme. The panel review sessions were facilitated by a chair who chaired every session. Within 2 weeks of the review a Design Review Report was written by Beam.

What did we achieve?
The Review process was an integral part of Wakefield Council’s planning decision-making process. It was a chance for the applicant / developer to promote the design of their scheme and have open and constructive dialogue with a panel of experts and peers. This engagement helped to clarify and resolve issues, which could then help to make the planning process run more smoothly.

The Design Review Panel was managed as an independent entity from Wakefield Council Planning Department and whilst Planning promoted and co-coordinated the selection of the schemes they did not influence the panel members. This enabled the panel to give design advice on the merits of the scheme alone.