Design Review is one of the most important services MADE offers to raise the quality of design of buildings and places in the West Midlands. Design Review provides independent, objective, expert feedback on the design of proposed developments. The service works though a panel of experienced professionals (architects, urban designers, engineers, transport planners, sustainability experts, landscape architects). The panel meets regularly (usually monthly) to consider three or four schemes that will have a significant impact on their area. They study the designs, listen to a presentation from the developers and their architects, discuss the proposals and give feedback. This is followed by a letter which summarises the panel’s views.
The whole of the West Midlands region is covered by design review services. MADE covers most of the region (in white on the map) and Urban Vision North Staffordshire covers the local authority areas of Stoke on Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands (shaded grey on the map).
We prefer to see proposals as early as possible in the design and planning process, so that our feedback can be easily incorporated into revised designs. So it is best if schemes are reviewed at a pre-planning-application stage, but design review can also be used during the planning process. Where schemes are viewed at a pre-application stage the deliberations of the panel can be kept confidential.
MADE’s design review service (along with other regional services) is affiliated with the national design review service operated by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). That means we are part of a comprehensive national service which is signed-up to an agreed set of principles for quality design review. MADE also supports the development of high quality, independent local design review services in the West Midlands region.
MADE Design Review is supported by Advantage West Midlands.
If you have a scheme which you think could benefit from review by some of the best design brains in Britain and Europe, download our scheme nomination form, fill it in and email it to us. If you are unsure about whether a scheme is suitable for design review or have any other queries, please contact:
David Tittle, Head of Design Excellence at MADE.
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0121 633 9403
or
Bianca Fowler, Design Excellence Co-ordinator
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0121 633 9407
You may also find it useful to download these documents:
