The document discusses the achievements of the Inspire East Design Review and Enabling services over five years. It provides feedback from panel members and users of the services. Key points include: 1) The services reviewed 136 schemes and supported 70 projects, providing independent review and advice to improve quality. 2) Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with the panel management rated highly. Users found value in gaining different perspectives and resolving issues. 3) The impact on improving schemes was seen in modified masterplans and successful applications, though long-term impact is difficult to measure. 4) Panel members emphasized the importance of community engagement, learning from best practices, and focusing on long-term sustainability and placemaking.

1. Creating Sustainable
Communities?
The legacy of Inspire East’s Design Review and Enabling services
6a Architects, Mines Farm PPS7 House
Disability Essex Building Bond Bryan Architects, Ipswich One
Supported by the East of England Development Agency

2. The aim of this report is to record the also an attempt to capture what has
achievements of the Inspire East Design been learned by those who have been
Review and Enabling services. As we involved, the experience of panel
come to the end of five years of members and the feedback from users.
successful delivery we have sought to Finally it is a chance to review the
capture the evidence of the number and progress we have made in the East of
range of schemes that have received England in delivering more sustainable
help from these services. The report is communities.
We asked all the Design Review and Enabling panel members to give us their
recommendations for the key points that should be considered in the creation of
sustainable communities. These are their comments.
Background
“Sustainable communities meet the diverse needs of We have worked hard to evaluate our service.
existing and future residents, their children and other We have developed a number of case studies that
users, contribute to high quality of life and provide identified the impact we have had on the schemes we
opportunity and choice. They achieve this in ways that have supported through Design Review and Enabling.
make effective use of natural resources, enhance the We have collected information on the numbers, type
environment, promote social cohesion and inclusion and location of the schemes and projects we have
and strengthen economic prosperity.” supported. We have sought feed back from the people
The Egan Review of Skills for who have used our service, and finally we held a legacy
Sustainable Communities (2004) event on the 18th January 2011 with the majority of
panel members. We discussed our experiences of
“A creative sense of what is possible linked to a delivering the service as well as our thoughts about
shared and inspiring vision are essential ingredients how the delivery of sustainable communities can be
for the development of high quality sustainable supported in the future.
communities. In combination they provide the
imaginative foundation, flexibility and inspiration that “New sustainable communities should not be planned
are required to make things happen. Furthermore, in isolation. There is a tendency, particularly with
these elements also provide the means, method and exemplar communities for them to lack consideration
motivation for overcoming the challenges that to their relationship with the communities and
inevitably arise in sustainable community projects.” settlements around them. The emphasis on self-
SAM GOODALL, XMMO LTD sufficiency can lead to them being seen as somewhat
separate rather than integrated with their
The Inspire East Design Review service was established surroundings. For example, the needs of the new
in 2006 with the intention of improving the quality of community facilities tend to be seen entirely from
schemes in the East of England and to provide support the perspective of the new community. This may
to projects and organisations through Enabling. Over work in the case of fairly isolated communities, but
the period of 2006 to 2010 we have reviewed 136 most are not. The assumption tends to be that all
schemes and supported 70 projects. facilities should be located in the new community.
The right solution for the long-term sustainability
“It is important to recognise that people’s perception of the area is more complex. Some facilities may
and behaviours are influenced by many factors that not be viable within a new community but could be
compromise sustainability. Therefore, people are located nearby. To concentrate all facilities in the
central to sustainability. The right environment new community may be detrimental to the
needs to be developed whereby people can be sustainability of settlements around it.”
encouraged to act in ways that won’t adversely RICHARD HIGH, HIGH ASSOCIATES
impact on others both now, or in the future.”
PETER HARDY, JMP CONSULTING
2

3. Five years is a very short time over which to accurately “We should redouble our efforts to work together,
assess the impact of services like Design Review and utilising the combined knowledge, skills and experience
Enabling. The schemes we support may take a long time of all stakeholders to achieve a clearly defined common
to come to fruition, progress may stall or even stop goal. Sustainability is not an optional extra in anything
completely. In Design Review the schemes we have we do.”
supported have often been affected by the recession ALISON GREIG, ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY
and even in a buoyant market many more schemes are
proposed and designed than are actually built. All this Despite all this we have sought to collect evidence of our
makes precise evaluation of our impact difficult and impact through evaluation of Inspire East as a whole. In
there are a limited numbers of schemes we have terms of the Design Review and Enabling services it may
reviewed that have actually been built. be harder for us to demonstrate our achievements of long
term objectives over a relatively short period of time. And
“Always start from the place, understanding how it is as discussed above our individual contribution is hard to
today, thinking creatively about its potential in the measure. However we can measure the impact of our
future, and working with a wide range of people with services on the users and the benefits they feel they have
different skills and knowledge (both local and technical) gained. This feedback from users has been vital to us in
to come up with proposals based on sound local developing the service we provide.
placemaking principles.
“Ultimately, ‘quality’ is about what people value in
Placemaking is something we can all focus on now – the communities in which they live, and is a relative
it does not require changes to national policy or the concept. “Poor quality”, as perceived from the outside,
process of development. We should embed this way is where local expectations may be low and shared
of thinking in education and practice at all levels from understanding of what makes for prosperity,
plan making, through masterplanning, down to specific sustainability and equity is lacking. Higher aspirations
development proposals.” and expectations can come from people finding out
JANE DANN, TIBBALDS PLANNING AND more about other communities and how they have
URBAN DESIGN achieved what they value in their “sustainable
community”. My recommendation is for community
In addition to this the development process can often be leaders to seek out and learn from experience
slow and involves a huge range of different individuals elsewhere, with support in finding good and relevant
and organisations. Assigning credit for a scheme to one examples. Which Inspire East was set up to do….”
individual, organisation or event is hard as it is often a DERRICK JOHNSTONE, EDUCE Ltd
team effort.
“Have a clear forward plan for stewardship and
governance of new residential areas. Without attention
to how new people will be supported to settle and who
will own and run amenities and the public realm (and
how their running costs will be met in the long-term),
places will fail to realise both the economic and social
value of new settlements and they may fail in many
critical areas (such as promoting stable populations).”
MARILYN TAYLOR, MARILYN TAYLOR ASSOCIATES
Assessing the role of the service as a broker or catalyst
and the qualitative impact that the service has made is an
area where we could have been stronger. It was pointed
out at the legacy event that meeting output targets could
have become an end in itself. This may be true, although
it is also a feature of the way Inspire East as a whole was
funded. There is an important lesson to be had for anyone
delivering a similar service about the need to measure
qualitative impacts as well as quantitative outputs. This
may be something that a third sector organisation might
find easier as it relates to the role of an advocate for
good design, something that is a little harder for a public
body.
3

4. Feedback from users
The feedback we have received has been helpful to us I would urge a continuing shift in LPA mindset, changing
in developing the Design Review Service. It has been the culture of control into proactive ‘urban change
overwhelmingly positive. In particular the management management’, embracing local engagement, briefing,
and the running of the panel has always been rated as enabling, review, negotiation, agreement. Progressing
either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. before, during and after planning applications, within
which the scheme-team actively assists in the
Some of the reasons people have given for using the collaborative process. Design review is a necessary part
panel have been: of the LPA’s responsibility, whether conducted in-house
or independently, as long as it is informed, critical and
• To gain advice about the suitability of the height, documented.
massing and scale of the proposed scheme.
LOCAL AUTHORITY URBAN DESIGNER With or without local community initiative, LPA-led
collaboration will always rely on a sound policy
• To assist with resolution of different views held framework, which must set a spatial framework, regard
between the designer and planning officer. design as active and continuous, and define quality of
PRIVATE SECTOR ARCHITECT life outcomes.”
ROGER ESTOP, CHELMSFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
• To undertake an independent review of the scheme
for the City Council… to seek the view of the panel • It is good to have independent and fresh views on
regarding the delivery of key elements of community a project in which we have become immersed for
infrastructure. almost two years.
LOCAL AUTHORITY PLANNER VOLUNTARY SECTOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE
“Provide high quality places in terms of buildings and In terms of what actually changed as a result of the
open spaces to create a desirable place where people panel’s comments a number of people who responded
will choose to live with high quality walking, cycling indicated they would be changing elements of their
and public transport connections to the places where schemes in response to the Design Review. Many
people actually want and need to go to.” successfully submitted applications. Comments included:
COLIN SHIELDS, WHITE YOUNG GREEN
• The masterplan has been modified and we are
Some comments on the benefits people felt they gained expecting an application in due course.
from attending design review were: LOCAL AUTHORITY URBAN DESIGNER
• We gained confidence in our scheme and approach… “The outcome of delivering sustainable communities
the Borough Council and the Planning Committee also seems to have been better achieved in some locations
had an understanding of the process of Design Review. in Europe than here. We should invest in learning these
LOCAL AUTHORITY PLANNER lessons. If we are to really reach these outcomes, we
should learn from the civic leadership, partnership
“Planning permission remains the focus of the complex working and municipal investment that is demonstrated
process through which better places are mediated. A in the best practice of some small European cities.
collaborative approach remains the ideal way to reach My recommendation would be a programme of genuine
decisions on major change. This is accepted wisdom, local freedoms with local fund raising capacity,
available through planning performance agreements. supported by skilled and informed growth partnerships
But it is not easy for local planning authorities to take which are core to the future development of those
the lead when a powerful retail or housing provider is places.”
pushing very hard for a standard product. It is also hard JUDITH BARKER, JUDITH BARKER CONSULTANCY
for LPAs to mesh public and politics into a well-honed
multi-professional design process.
4

5. • Project design has progressed since the design a costed plan that includes schools, amenities, services
review in response to the comments of the panel. and transport policies. The key to improving sustainable
The scheme is to be submitted to the District communities is to have a vision which has the support
Council as an application for planning permission of both the community and the local authority.”
very shortly. ED FARRELL, CONSULTANT
PRIVATE SECTOR ARCHITECT
The Design Review and Enabling services were conceived
It would be wrong to assume comments have always as two separate services and procured separately. This
been positive. Sometimes there has been disagreement resulted in two panels with some people serving on both.
on specific issues. Some comments we have been able to Many of the panel members have served for four years. A
respond to have been concerns about the length of time new procurement process in 2008 brought in some new
given to major schemes and a lack of understanding of panel members whilst some decided not to continue. The
the context. When necessary we have been able to offer way we have used the panels and panel members has
extended sessions to major schemes and we have moved changed over the four years we have been delivering the
the panel around the region in order to be able to carry service. It has evolved to a point that if the service were
out site visits. to continue it is doubtful we would retain separate panels.
“Empower stakeholders to make correct decisions at The way in which the skills of panel members have been
the right time. This needs to be done by communication used effectively in a different way has been most obvious
of solutions (converting information into knowledge through the Capacity for Urban Renaissance in the
and ultimately wisdom) both from top-down (experts) East of England (CURE) programme which Inspire East
and bottom-up from within a community. Find ways to delivered in partnership with Regional Cities East.
share this. Ensure there are robust ‘feedback loops’ Through this a number of Enabling and Design Review
to keep wisdom living and correct. Share successes panel members worked directly with Local Authorities to
and use knowledge to change small things further ‘up build capacity around a range of issues. Support in the
stream’. Planning departments are the doorkeepers – form of mentoring and running workshops was provided
inform and enable them.” for both Local Authority staff and stakeholders. This
DAVID KIRKLAND, KIRKLAND FRASER MOOR covered issues as diverse as masterplanning, business
engagement and sustainable development.
Issues that have been harder to resolve have been
fundamental disagreements on particular aspects of “Consider sustainability in the round – do not get
a scheme. There have been disagreements with both carried away with any particular aspect. Listen to
private sector scheme promoters and Local Planning what people have to say from different disciplines. Be
Authorities. We feel this is to be expected if the review proportionate and realistic. Put yourself in the shoes
is to be rigorous. We have been as likely to be critical of the people who will love, work and play in the
of local policy as we have been to criticise a developer community and think how it will work for them. Think
something that is important as our aim has been to ahead – not just to when whatever it is has been built,
improve the quality of schemes rather than to support but how it will be in ten, twenty, thirty years time.
one particular view. How will it weather? What will it look like? Will it still
be wanted? What about maintenance? How will people
get to it and from it? ”
Development NIGEL SMITH, HEWDON CONSULTING
In 2009 we contributed to the development of a National
of the service Network of Design Review Panels affiliated to CABE.
For us this formalised a close working relationship and
allowed us to share schemes and information. We were
“The quality of sustainable communities can be improved
able to share good practice with a network of panels
by a balanced approach to the physical design that
across the country all committed to the ten principles of
includes decent infrastructure. Housing development
design review1. This is something that was beginning to
can be improved through design review, but this will
develop a consistent and comprehensive approach to
only succeed if the developer and local authority have
Design Review.
1
10 Principles of Design Review Appendix 1
5

6. “Communities reside in and are built around real benefit too, through a positive association with civic-
physical places; they are not just social concepts. For minded projects and activities. I know these sorts of
a community to become and remain sustainable it must arrangements happen already, but they often appear
have a suitable physical environment within which it ad hoc and inconsistent. And this can make an
can develop. The key prerequisite for improvement otherwise willing firm or employer hesitant about
in the formation of sustainable communities is the launching their own scheme. So some sort of national
improvement of the quality of our physical environments. accreditation, or similar, could be the next step.”
We must improve places so that communities want RICHARD EASTHAM, FERIA LTD
to be a part of them and want to own them as their
place in the world. This can only be delivered through The support we have provided has helped groups break
investment and striving for the very best in the a large task down into more manageable chunks, pull
improvement of the quality of design of places and together evidence to support funding bids and organising
spaces - the public realm and the architecture which public meetings. We have also provided, free of charge,
we all live with. a level of expertise in transport planning, urban design
and development viability that would be hard for many
Inspire East’s Design Review and Enabling services organisations to access on a commercial basis.
have played a key role in improving the ambition of
those who are creating the new places in our Region. This capacity building role of the Design Review and
It is essential that we re-establish these key services Enabling service is something that has worked well. The
to continue raising the standards of the proposals two have worked alongside each other as we have been
coming forward which will shape our future able to provide additional support to schemes that have
environments.” come to Design Review to resolve problems or improve
KEVIN BURRELL, HFBT ARCHITECTS the capacity, particularly of Local Authorities. This has
clearly worked with schemes that have been reviewed a
Those that had worked on the schemes felt that the number of times and where enabling support has been
support we were able to provide was helpful as it allowed provided to the Local Authority. These have resulted in
organisations and partnerships to articulate a common schemes where both design and viability improved. This
vision. Local Authorities often still have silos of skills and is an approach that organisations like the Homes and
outside support can help to bring these skills together Communities Agency should take note of as they seek
and see what needs to be done. This approach has helped to develop their role as an enabling organisation.
to bring organisations working in partnership together, to
understand the perspectives of others and develop
broader shared visions of how to achieve public good.
Make up of the
This approach has not been restricted to Local
Authorities. Proportionally they have been the biggest
users of this type of support but we have also tried
Panels
to reach out to community organisations like the There are a wide range of skills represented on both
Three Rivers Way. We have been able to provide support to panels. All panel members have an interest in the built
other community groups on issues like water management environment, although it is not dominated by one
and, more recently, supporting a community led approach profession and a number of panel members are qualified
to the masterplanning of key sites. in more than one discipline. This is something that panel
members feel is a real strength to both services and
“Sustainable communities could receive a huge boost reflects the range of skills necessary to deliver sustainable
if firms and employers encouraged staff to take time communities. This adds weight to the panel’s comments
off to volunteer within the community. The biggest particularly in Design Review. It is often the case that
deterrent to getting more involved in community life the same problems will be identified from a different
is our long-hours culture. So being able to leave early professional perspective. This can help the users of
on occasion, and with prior agreement, to help out the service to identify the key problems that need to
with clubs, societies and projects in the community be resolved in order to deliver a successful scheme.
could make a real difference. The range of skills and
abilities available to communities would be massively
increased. Furthermore, employers and firms could
6

7. “For all the firm policies, exciting masterplans and
excellent advice, the UK lags far behind the rest of
Working Style
Europe in building sustainable communities. Nor did In Design Review we have been successful in ensuring that
our few sustainable urban neighbourhoods resolve buildings fit both their surroundings and their ultimate
the problems of minimising energy consumption, and use. Reviews have concentrated on how developments
managing environment impact, as continental examples worked rather than being affected by personal architectural
have done. Investment in housing output was half that tastes. However, when things are done well, in whatever
of France and Germany. Instead we built blocks of small style, then an aesthetic value and a beauty is created
apartments and sold them to buy to let investors. When which is something we have sought to support.
the property crash came the British volume housing
industry collapsed. Clearly the business model is not “The quality of architecture and urban design in new
fit for purpose, and our economy and quality of life housing development is often much criticised. Yet
suffer as a result; in Cambridge the average house customers continue to buy the product, and indeed
price is nine times’ average earnings, and developers aspire to own it. Some commentators put this down to
no longer have the confidence to take complex lack of choice (that the alternatives are neither available
schemes forward. nor affordable). I believe that far more should be done
at an earlier stage to help consumers become more aware
What should be done? The messages from continental of the context within which they are making their choices.
experience are clear. Produce much more affordable The public remain excluded from the debate regarding
housing by building in the right place, with larger how our future built environment can be shaped to achieve
units, but with lower profit margins and land values shared objectives and goals. I would press for greater
by de-risking the whole process. We have to simplify resources to be made available to raise awareness of
neighbourhood development, and not cut red tape (and participation in) the issues and objectives that the
lengthwise. So let us get public land released, with built environment disciplines grapple with. There is a
clear development frameworks in manageable parcels need for all end-users to demand a product that meets
(1-2 hectares) with the landowner receiving 25% of these objectives. Until people of all ages understand
the sales value when it is realised. Then we would fully the implications of the choices they make, and
build sustainable urban neighbourhoods, not just talk the opportunities for their input into shaping future
about them.” environments, the status quo is unlikely to change.”
NICHOLAS FALK, URBED MARTIN HARRADINE, AZ URBAN STUDIO LTD
In recruiting panel members as much thought was given We have sought to remove schemes from the, often
to the interpersonal skills of panel members as to their adversarial, planning arena that can develop. Since we
professional expertise. We sought panel members who could are entirely independent we have been able to adopt a
work together with other professions and communicate more cooperative and helpful approach. Sometimes the
their own knowledge in a way that is supportive. most valuable part of the experience has been bringing
the parties together provide an environment where they
can talk openly about their scheme.
“My recommendation would be to make the process of
developing sustainable communities less adversarial.
The UK house building industry, with some honourable
exceptions, seems to view concepts such as sustainable
communities as something that increases costs without
making schemes more attractive to buyers. Conflict
is therefore built into the process. The experience of
Design Review in the East of England, as elsewhere, is
that it can be a valuable tool in breaking down these
barriers. It allows developers to engage in dialogue
with independent experts and panels to better
understand commercial pressures. The result has not
always been perfect, but has, in my view, always been
better that it would have been without the contribution
of a design review panel.”
DAVID RUDLIN, URBED
7

8. We have sought to help with the strategic thinking many Many authorities lack expertise in sustainability,
projects lack. Design Review can help to bring this to the something that can be simple and achievable. Also
fore and encourage that level of strategic thought. planners as ‘gatekeepers’ are a key profession for the
delivery of sustainable communities. Unfortunately they
are often under resourced, something that will increase
with public sector cuts. There is often a need for the
additional support the panel can provide on design,
viability and strategic approaches. These skills can be
costly and hard to access for the public sector and this
is why there will continue to be a need for the support
the Design Review and Enabling services can provide.
“It is vital to properly consider the movement and
access requirements of potential site occupants and
visitors. Unfortunately, it is still far too common for
traffic engineers and transport planners to adopt a
formulaic approach to transport. On paper applications
may tick the necessary boxes to comply with basic
transport planning requirements, but generally they
still fail to realise the significance of this unique
opportunity to incorporate innovative design features,
a TDM initiatives, that are likely to prove essential
components of a future access strategy. A sustainable
future depends on thinking differently. The transport
challenges are complex and facing these will require
professionals able to think beyond the traditional
boundaries. Sustainable communities rely on solutions
that draw upon contemporary knowledge and
international transport planning innovation tailored
for local application.”
COLIN BLACK, CONTEMPORARY TRANSPORT LTD
6a Architects, Mines Farm PPS7 House, reviewed in 2008
Geographical
Spread
The service has been effective in reviewing schemes and
supporting projects across the East of England, although
the service has been used in some areas more than
others. This still leaves a lot of gaps and many areas
that have had limited access to the expertise the panel
provided.
Bond Bryan Architects, Ipswich One, reviewed in 2007
“It should be a right that every community has access
to somebody who has architecture and design expertise
and encourage them to exercise that right at all times.
Such ‘Design Aid’ would be complimentary to Planning
Aid.”
ANTHONY HUDSON, HUDSON ARCHITECTS
8

9. Types of Schemes
Residential schemes have formed the biggest single users of the Design Review service. However, the number of
masterplans and educational schemes has also been significant as one would expect in a region like the East of
England which has experienced significant growth. This also reflects the recent level of public funding for Education.
Design Review Schemes by Type
60
50
50
40
30
23
20 18
10 7 7
5 5 6
4
1 1 2 2
0
0
n
l
l
e
d
ic
es
l
e
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e
ed
lth
l
tia
a
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ai
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ea
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en
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at
is
C
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s
l
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ia
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In
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-R
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ed
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ix
ix
M
M
By far the biggest users of the Enabling Service have Total Design Review Schemes
been in the public sector, mostly Local Authorities.
This is not surprising given the nature of the service 3%
and the level at which the support has been marketed.
13%
However we have tried to work with the voluntary 2 3%
sector with some success and as the Localism agenda
evolves there is still considerable scope for this. It
was significant that the last assignment delivered by
the service has been working with a community in
Suffolk to provide urban design skills and expertise on
viability to help them realise the opportunity of a key
site in their town.
24%
25%
Beds Cambs Essex Herts Norfolk Suffolk 12%
9

10. Leadership is still an important issue as successful
Contribution schemes are those with leaders. It is important to
identify and support leaders within local communities,
to Sustainable particularly those who are not part of the political
landscape.
Communities In terms of Inspire East’s original remit there is still a
need to promote the sort of cross-silo working that
“That we make valued judgements about the worth we have been able to achieve with the panel. This is
of land and the wealth in creating homes, instead of particularly necessary in the education of professionals
simply being led by price of houses based solely on and their continuing development.
affordability or the availability of finance.”
BEN VAN BRUGGEN, SAVILLS “We should procure urban extensions, new settlements
and regeneration projects through municipal land
It is clear that Inspire East and the Design Review and development, where local authorities take the lead
Enabling services have made a contribution to delivering on land assembly, masterplanning, design quality,
more sustainable communities but there is still a long community infrastructure, and thus enabling the uplift
way to go. Panel members have suggested a number of in land value to be re-distributed back into the project
ways in which sustainable communities can continue to as much as possible, to help fund locally led facilities
be supported. A number of different solutions that could which will benefit future residents.”
make a difference were discussed at the legacy event, NICK ENGE, HOMES AND COMMUNITIES AGENCY
including different approaches to land ownership and
the value of charters; in particular the Cambridgeshire The need to be more than just experts sitting in judgment
Quality Charter. but to support and share information will always be there
and the brokerage role we have been able to offer will
“The key success factor for sustainable communities become more important under the localism agenda. Most
is people and in particular leadership – not political importantly, there will always be a need to encourage
leadership, but leadership from within the community. quality and to raise people’s aspirations.
This is essential in order to drive forward work
undertaken by both public and private sector delivery
bodies from Local Authorities to Developers. It is
important to get the balance right in terms of
responsibility given to such leaders as they must not be
overburdened and thought must be given to succession.”
RICHARD JONES, ENERGY MYWAY
Disability Essex Building reviewed in 2007
10

11. Appendix 1
10 Principles of Design Review
1 Independent 8 Objective
It is conducted by people who are separate from the It appraises schemes in the round according to
scheme promoter and decision-maker, and it protects reasoned, objective criteria rather than the stylistic
against conflicts of interest. tastes of individual panel members.
2 Accountable 9 Focussed on outcomes for people
It records and explains its advice and is transparent It asks how this building or place can better meet the
about potential conflicts of interest. needs of the people using it, and of the public at large
who are affected by it.
3 Expert
It is conducted by suitably trained people who are 10 Focussed on improving quality
experienced in design and know how to criticise It constructively seeks to improve the quality of
constructively. Review is usually most respected architecture, urban design, landscape, highway design
where it is carried out by professional peers of the and town planning.
project designers, as their standing and expertise
will be acknowledged.
4 Advisory
It does not make decisions. It acts as a source of
impartial advice for decision-makers.
5 Accessible
Its findings are clearly expressed in terms that decision-
makers can understand and use.
6 Proportionate
It is used on projects whose significance warrants the
public investment of providing design review at
national, regional and local level, as appropriate. Other
methods of appraising design quality should be used
for less significant projects.
7 Timely
It takes place as early as possible in the life of a design
because this saves the most time and costs less to
make changes. If a planning application has already
been made, it happens within the timeframe for
considering it. And it is repeated when a further opinion
is required.
11

12. Appendix 2
Total Design Review Schemes
Beds Cambs Essex Herts Norfolk Suffolk
16
14
14
13
12
10 10
10
8 8 8
8
7
6
5 5
4 4 4 4 4
4
3 3 3
2 2 2 2 2
2
1 1 1 1 1
0 0
0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Scheme Type by Year
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Civic Culture & Leisure Education Health Hotel
Industrial Infrastructure Masterplan Mixed Use - Commercial led Mixed Use - Residential led
Offices Public Space Residential Retail
12

13. Inspire East would like to thank all the applicants who took the time to
attend and contribute to the service. We would like to thank all the panel
members and in particular Ben van Bruggen our Chair of four years and a
constant advocate of design quality. Finally we would like to thank Valerie
Weekes, our Panel Administrator who held the fort and kept us organised.
Website: www.inspire-east.org.uk