October 19, 2011
The Bishop Review on the future of design in the built environment has been published by Design Council (DC) Cabe. Not surprisingly, it reports that we loved ‘CABE’ and want it back.
So what would this new DC Cabe be? An independent champion of sustainable design, paid for by planning application fees.
And what would applicants get for their money? With an air of timely opportunism, DC Cabe would resolve the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ‘what is sustainable design?’ conundrum. With some tweaks to the NPPF, DC Cabe would become the ‘material’ determinant of ‘good design’ in the planning process, through empowered Design Review Panels and as the Government’s advisor on design matters in the built environment.
Bishop’s recommendations suggest an investment of resources back into DC Cabe. And meanwhile, what becomes of Building for Life? It seems that it will only remain as a useful pre-application tool.
NLP Contact Colin Pullan on 020 7837 4477 / cpullan@nlpplanning.com