Following the success of our last CPD / training event in Exeter on the 4th December 2017, we are delighted to be holding another Design Review Panel CPD day, focusing on Taunton’s Garden Town status and supported by Taunton Deane Borough Council. The event is to be held at the Somerset County Cricket Ground in Taunton.

The event is aimed at design team members, local authority planning officers, Councillors and applicants/scheme promoters.

The morning will include presentations from Tim Burton (Assistant Director Planning & Environment Taunton Deane Borough Council & West Somerset Council), Jane Fowles, (Landscape Architect, Urban Designer, Director at Novell Tullett) and Jon Tricker (South West Director, Phil Jones Associates). Please see below for the speakers biographies. These presentations will be followed by a Q&A session.

The afternoon will include a mock design review panel session/workshop, presented by David Drummond (Reed Holland Architects & Interior Designers) and Tim Burton (Taunton Deane Borough Council & West Somerset Council).

A buffet lunch is provided as are further refreshments and opportunities to mingle throughout the day. The event will conclude with drinks; wine & fruit juice.

Design Review Panel feedback is a material consideration in the Planning process. Paragraph 129 of the 2018 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states: -

"Local planning authorities should ensure that they have access to, and make appropriate use of, tools and processes for assessing and improving the design of development. These include workshops to engage the local community, design advice and review arrangements ...

... These are of most benefit if used as early as possible in the evolution of schemes, and are particularly important for significant projects such as large scale housing and mixed use developments. In assessing applications, local planning authorities should have regard to the outcome from these processes, including any recommendations made by design review panels."

Paragraph 131 goes on to say:

" In determining applications, great weight should be given to outstanding or innovative designs which promote high levels of sustainability, or help raise the standard of design more generally in an area, so long as they fit in with the overall form and layout of their surroundings."

The Design Review Panel was launched in 2013, upon the invitation of a group of local authorities to provide impartial, independent, multidisciplinary and expert peer review to design teams, applicants and local authorities; www.designreviewpanel.co.uk

2nd October 2018 Design Review Panel CPD Programme:-

All speakers below are confirmed, (the programme is subject to change and the final timetable will be announced shortly).

09:00 Registration and Welcome Refreshments including Bacon Rolls

10:00 Introduction – Jonathan Braddick, Manager of The Design Review Panel

10:20 ‘Local Authority Viewpoint; The importance of good design in the planning process (with a focus on Taunton’s garden town status)’ - Tim Burton (Assistant Director Planning & Environment Taunton Deane Borough Council & West Somerset Council)

11:00 ‘Place Making, Landscape & Urban Design – the value of green infrastructure' – Jane Fowles, (Landscape Architect, Urban Designer, Director at Novell Tullett)

11:40 Q&A Session

11:50 Refreshments

12:10 ‘The Essential Role of Highways Design in Place Making; with a look at the proposals around Taunton & the wider sub region' (Jon Tricker, Director (South West), Phil Jones Associates

12:45 Audience Questions

12:50 Mock Design Review Panel Workshop Introduction

13:00 Buffet Lunch

14:30 Afternoon Introduction

14:40 Video Presentation; David Drummond, Director, Reed Holland Associates

15:00 Groups Exercise

15:20 Mock Design Review Panel Discussion, Questioning & Conclusions - Jonathan Braddick, The Design Review Panel & David Drummond, Director, Reed Holland Architects & Interior Designers

15:50 Conclusions

16:00 Refreshments & Networking

17:00 Departure

The Speakers