the importance of design in the built environment€¦ · more effective public procurement •...

The Importance of

Design in the

Built Environment

Mike Baulcombe (RIBA East Midlands)

#BuildaBetterBritain

The RIBA champions better buildings,

communities and the environment through

architecture and our members

• Provide services for our members

• Promote architecture and architects

• Lobby Government and other opinion formers

• Lead on the education of the future of the profession

#BuildaBetterBritain

Three documents to focus on

• RIBA manifesto ‘Building a Better Britain’ - Government

• NPPF – Local Planning Authorities

• Farrell Review – Construction professions

#BuildaBetterBritain

RIBA manifesto for the 2015 election

‘Building a Better Britain’

• More well-designed homes

• Well planned places

• Creative inspiring schools

• Smarter greener buildings

• Happy healthy places

• Flood proof communities

#BuildaBetterBritain

More well-designed homes

• Design quality, including space and light imperative

to future housing

• Opportunity for self and custom build

• We need to convince developers and housebuilders

of the benefits - viability

• Continuance of affordable housing

• Planning can play a part, linked to Neighbourhood

Plans

#BuildaBetterBritain

Well planned places

• Constant reform & diminishing resources

• Autonomous City regions and Combined Authorities

• Long term (joined up) approach but focusing on local

priorities

• Pro active planning including community engagement

#BuildaBetterBritain

Creative inspiring schools

• BSF versus Priority Schools Building programme

• Good design can still deliver better value for money

• Better designed schools = higher pupil attainment

• Standardise yes, but to better standards

• Procurement currently not efficient

#BuildaBetterBritain

Smarter greener buildings

• Current stock of buildings poorly maintained

• High energy costs result

• New build & retrofit key to better performing buildings

• Local Authorities have a key role, inc. Green Deal

#BuildaBetterBritain

Happy healthy places

• Our aging society will demand a different approach

• Planning of our cities and towns should reflect this

• Encourage healthier transport & lifestyles

#BuildaBetterBritain

Flood proof communities

• 5.2 million homes in the UK at risk

• Intelligent funding is needed to reduce the risk

• Take more care of where we build

#BuildaBetterBritain

NPPF

Section 7 - Requiring Good Design

• Local & Neighbourhood plans should outline quality

• Design codes to focus on place not detail

• Encourage innovation and originality

• Good design is not just aesthetics

• Design Review - local arrangements

• Weight given to outstanding design

• Poor design refused

#BuildaBetterBritain

Farrell Review

• Government commissioned

• Overall not advocating Government actions, but

industry facing

• Planning Landscape Architecture Conservation

Engineering

• Provides a proactive framework for PLACE

professions to work together at a local and regional

level

• RTPI and the planning profession are a key partner

#BuildaBetterBritain

Some key areas we can work on together

• Education & Outreach

– Community engagement via Urban Rooms

– ‘Design’ training for planning committee members

– ‘Champion the civic’

• Design Quality

– Proactive planning

– PLACE Reviews

– More effective public procurement

#BuildaBetterBritain

Community engagement via Urban Rooms

• Opportunity to present the town/city’s past and future

• Point of contact

• Planning consultations

• Workshops & Exhibitions

• Young People engagement

• Virtual and/or physical

• Examples include Blackburn

• RIBA working with three East Midlands authorities

#BuildaBetterBritain

‘Design’ training for planning committee members

• CPD for members and others in decision process

• Understanding of design is crucial

• RIBA & partners keen to help deliver

#BuildaBetterBritain

‘Champion the civic’

• Practises or individuals voluntarily engaging with their

communities

• In partnership with Local Authorities

• Help to educate and shape communities

#BuildaBetterBritain

Proactive planning

• Opportunities for planners to think creatively

• Not just development control

• PLACE Review provides a framework

#BuildaBetterBritain

PLACE Reviews

• Cover all aspects of the built environment

• Panels with representation from PLACE professions

• In cooperation with Local Authorities

• Long term

• Proactive rather than reactive

• Collaborative not judgemental

#BuildaBetterBritain

More effective public procurement

• Make public procurement efficient and cost effective

• Design quality is often not an important criteria in the

procurement process

• Taxpayers deserve better

• Over reliance on frameworks

• Design competitions offer one alternative

• Better designed buildings offer better value over their

lifetime

#BuildaBetterBritain

The benefits of design

quality

‘promoting excellence’

Chris Twomey, Director Lathams & Chair of Design Review -

OPUN26th February 2015

Contents

01 Why design matters

02 How design review

can help

03 Who is involved

04 Summary

why

design

matters

…..

01

Balancing often competing needs & ambitions...

High

Profile

Stirling

Prize-

Winners..

2014

2013

2011

2012

All about context…

Bold & distinctive solutions – with lasting appeal

how

Design

Review

can help

…..

02

Community/stakeholder involvement

Planning Policy/

legislation

Rigorous Site Analysis

Clear Vision &Principles

Robust Design Solutions

..Informed by relevant best practice guidance and

design standards

What the design review panel

look for..

Assessment of:

• Location and

landscape setting

• Relationship to

surroundings

(form, scale & mass

of buildings)

• Transport links

• Local facilities

• Predominant building

materials

What is special and distinctive

about the place?

Evidence of understanding

eg. Creation of new urban ‘green’

• Strong, active frontage

• Articulating ‘gateways’ and corners

Is there a clear vision and

strong concept?

• ‘Housing on the square’

• Clear distinction between public

‘fronts’ and private ‘backs’

• Building frontage to define

street pattern

• Improved connectivity/links

• Elevational ‘rhythm’ to enliven

street scene

• Materials to reflect neighbouring

buildings

And a promise of character and

identity?

Stakeholder & community engagement –

How have views shaped the scheme?

Consultation…

Pre-app?

• Re-using land and buildings

• Improving links and connectivity

• Harnessing renewables

• Using energy efficiently

• Conserving water

• Using natural systems

• Using local materials

• Integrating waste re-cycling

with sustainability embedded…

Who

is

involved

…..

03

Opun is part of a nationwide design network with 30 hand picked specialists from a wide range of disciplines, including:-

•Architects•Urban designers•Planners•Property consultants•Landscape Architects•Artists•Transport specialists

Bespoke service for local authorities, developers & clients

Independent Panel of experts

•‘Crit’ style reviews

• ‘Workshop’ sessions

• Collaborative and positive

• Charging mechanism to suit scheme complexity

• Early reviews encouraged, incl. follow-up sessions

Opun is already working with most East Midlands local planning

authorities (design review/neighbourhood planning/enabling/training)

Sessions tailored to suit …

Summary

…..

04

The benefits of

Design Review...

• Strong and distinctive design solutions, endorsed by the independent

Design Review Panel, will help to smooth the path to a successful

planning consent

• Schemes with a clear sense of identity and ‘place’ help to create a

marketing edge for clients – design review adds value to this process

• Design review can help mediate between the sometimes competing

aspirations of stakeholders, eg. highways, politicians, communities

• The design review process is open, transparent, positive – early

engagement provides the greatest benefits

Thank you

.. and a fresh perspective

with advice, guidance, clear and consistent

feedback, encouragement ...

OPUN Design Review Panel –

on hand to help

Contact Details

Design Review Enquiries- please contact:

Dharmista Patel at OPUN

dharmista@opun.org.uk

All other Enquiries – please contact:

Mike Baulcombe at RIBA

Mike.Baulcombe@riba.org

#BuildaBetterBritain