We are delighted to announce that Mendip District Council have voted to join the group of local authorities committed to raising the design standards in the built environment across the south west region by signing up to refer appropriate major and significant planning applications to the Devon and Somerset Design Review Panel.
Ian Bowen, Planning Manager at Mendip District Council said:-
"Achieving high quality places is at the heart of how we do things in Mendip. We are fortunate to be the custodians of an outstanding area and recognise that securing first-rate design is vital both for our residents and for our local economy.
We already strongly encourage applicants to seek advice on their schemes prior to making formal applications and have been looking for some time to formalise our independent design review arrangements.
I am delighted that the Council has decided to endorse the Devon and Somerset Design Review Panel (www.designreviewpanel.co.uk). Our planning members are clear that they intend to afford significant weight to the views of the Panel, sure in the knowledge that the advice applicants receive will be impartial and based on extensive local expertise."
We very much look forward to working with Mendip District Council in providing them with high quality, expert, impartial, independent, multidisciplinary, local design review panel services.
To refer a project to the Design Review Panel as part of your pre application discussions with Mendip District Council please contact Mendip District Council Planning Department www.mendip.gov.uk/contactus
Further details of the Design Review Panel, including other participating local authorities across the south west, panel member information and information in regard to the design review panel process can be seen at www.designreviewpanel.co.uk