The Newham Design
Review Panel
The Newham Design Review Panel
(DRP) was set up in October 2007 to help improve the quality of
urban design and architecture through the borough's planning
process.
What is the Design Review
Panel?
The DRP evaluates and provides professional design
advice on key developments in the borough. While the panel does not
have decision-making powers, it serves as an advisory body helping
the council to achieve the best built environment for its
residents.
In 2009, Newham's DRP was highlighted as a case study in
"Design Review, principles and practice"
(pdf), a best practice guide on Design Review Panels
published by the Commission of Architecture and the Built
Environment and the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Who serves on the Design Review
Panel?
The panel comprises of a chair and up to six others drawn from a
pool of 30 highly qualified architects and other professionals in
the built environment.
What does the DRP
review?
The panel evaluates boroughwide developments, excluding Olympic
applications and Stratford City (both of which have their own
review panels). With particular focus on Canning Town, the Royal
Docks, the Lower Lea Valley and the rest of Stratford, the panel
reviews planning applications and pre-application designs for both
major new developments and significant alterations to existing
property/ buildings that impact the Borough's townscape.
Since April 2009, the panel has also reviewed public realm design
proposals and design guidance documents.
How do the reviews
work?
Newham's Design Review Panel holds monthly meetings,
where 1-4 schemes are reviewed. Prior to a meeting, panel members
visit the proposal sites accompanied by the Design Review Panel
Coordinator.
At the meetings, development proposals are presented by the
developer's design team. Presentation material includes
architectural models, powerpoint presentations, and display
boards.
After the presentation, panel members ask questions to clarify any
issues and discuss the design of the scheme with the design team
and developer.
Following the meeting, a Design Review Report is written by the
panel chair in collaboration with the other panel members present.
This report is then circulated to the developers and their design
team, as well as any other stakeholder within 10 working days of
the meeting.
If the proposal was reviewed at preapplication stage, the report
remains confidential. If the proposal was reviewed at application
stage, the report becomes a public document and is kept within the
proposal's planning file.
Results of the
Design Review Panel
From November 2007 to December 2009, the panel
reviewed 48 schemes. Of those schemes, 18 were brought back for a
2nd review and 2 were brought back for a 3rd review. Through these
schemes, the panel has influenced the design of approximately
21,000 new homes, 9 masterplans, 5 schools, 3 public realm designs,
3 design guidance documents and other major public buildings.
Design Review Panel documents
The following documents detail the operations of the
Design Review Panel.
Each year an annual report is produced that reviews the operations
of the panel and assesses its impact. It is felt that the reviews
have led developers and their design teams to the design of many of
the schemes.
Design Review Panel
contact
For more information on the Design Review Panel, please contact
Jennifer Currier on 020 3373 3631
jennifer.currier@newham.gov.uk