The Design Review Panel

We have published a free, open-source Code of Conduct for design review panels to make governance visible, testable and consistent across the sector. As design review is asked to carry greater weight in England’s planning system, everyone — applicants, local authorities and communities — needs confidence in the process. Our Code is model‑neutral and practical: it sets expectations on independence, conflict management, panel composition, written feedback and transparent governance. It is available to download and reuse, and we welcome its use by independent panels, LPAs, applicants and design teams. Read the Code and download a copy to support clearer, more credible review processes: https://wix.to/2ACiiS9

We also offer longer-format and staged reviews for major or complex proposals — contact us to discuss how an iterative, well‑governed process can strengthen your design audit trail. [email protected]

Why we published an open-source Code of Conduct for Design Review Panels As government moves to place design review more firmly within mainstream planning practice, we have published a free, open-source Code of Conduct — a model-neutral governance framework for independent design review in England.Design review has been part of the English planning landscape for years,...

Refused by committee. Allowed on appeal. Discover how Spilsby House near Ottery St Mary moved from refusal to appeal success under NPPF Paragraph 84e — and the role independent design review played in that decision. Read the full case study and learn lessons for design-led development: https://wix.to/NYsiSsl

A big thank you to Tim Burton for chairing an in-person session in last week.

Many thanks also to our wonderful volunteer Panel members Charlotte Lewis (Richborough) Mark Cooper, Tim Brandt and Graham Devine (LHC Design) for generously contributing their time and expertise.

We’re grateful to Georgina Thomson at Quod together with the wider design team at Fletcher Priest Architects , Planit, Urban&Civic and Homes England, for inviting The Design Review Panel to provide an independent and impartial review at this formative stage.

Thank you also to Mark Patterson (Harborough District Council) and Jamie Carr (Oadby & Wigston Borough Council) for taking part in the session.

In-person and online design review sessions — with or without site visits — are available for projects anywhere across the UK.

To find out more or book a session:
www.designreviewpanel.co.uk

It was a pleasure to chair an in-person Design Review Panel session earlier this week for a major infrastructure project on a fascinating site in .

The site visit alone may have been one of the longest walks I have ever undertaken for a design review session — I certainly achieved my 10,000 steps for the day.

Many thanks to our expert volunteer Panel members — Bill Soper, Paul Crisp, Peter Owens, Adam Robbins and Stephen Whettem — for generously contributing their time and expertise.

We are grateful to the design team for inviting The Design Review Panel (www.design review panel.co.uk) to provide an independent and impartial review at this formative stage. It was a pleasure to meet the teams from Montagu Evans, Scarp, RBA, Bioscan and Barton Hyett.

Design review sessions — in-person or online, with or without site visits — are available for projects across the UK.

www.designreviewpanel.co.uk
[email protected]

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Many thanks to Andrew Robbins for chairing a dynamic in-person session last week for a commercial project in .

Thank you also to our volunteer Panel members – Damian Tungatt, John Armstrong, Daniel Smith and Graham Devine – for their valuable input and expertise.

We are grateful to Charlotte Lewis at Richborough, alongside Pegasus, Mood and Delta Planning, for inviting The Design Review Panel to provide an independent and impartial review.

In-person sessions and online design review panel meetings (with or without site visits) are available for projects across the UK.

Book via our website www.designreviewpanel.co.uk
Email [email protected]
Call 01395 265768

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Good design benefits from informed, independent scrutiny.

A really constructive in-person design review panel session took place last week in .

Many thanks to Andrew Robbins for chairing the session, and to volunteer Panel members Ian Firth Bondstones, Kim Gray, Tom Jonson and Simon Noblet for generously sharing their time and expertise. Thanks also to Kevin Brown at Collaborative Architecture and Mike Joffe at David Jarvis Landscape Architects for inviting The Design Review Panel to provide an independent and impartial review.

We deliver in-person and online design review panel sessions (with or without site visits) for projects across the UK, supporting better design outcomes through independent, multidisciplinary insight.

To find out more or to book a session, visit
👉 www.designreviewpanel.co.uk
📧 [email protected] | ☎️ 01395 265768

Planning permission secured following independent .

A recently approved Paragraph 84(e) home in rural demonstrates the real influence that independent design review can have on complex planning decisions — with the delegated officer report giving significant weight to the design review process in reaching its conclusion.

While this particular scheme sits within a sensitive rural setting, the lessons are far broader. From strategic housing developments to major infrastructure projects, planning outcomes increasingly depend on the strength, clarity and credibility of the design case.

Our latest article explores:

• how early and sustained engagement with an independent design review panel helped secure approval
• why independent, impartial and multidisciplinary scrutiny carries weight with planning officers and decision-makers
• how design review can strengthen confidence across projects of all scales and types
• the role of design review in turning strong design ambition into robust, policy-aligned planning cases

The key message is simple: independent design review is not about endorsement — it is about rigour, transparency and trust, whatever the context.

Read the full article here:
https://www.designreviewpanel.co.uk/post/independent-design-review-panel-securing-planning-approval-for-a-paragraph-84-e-home-in-rural-wilt

Whether you’re promoting a Paragraph 84(e) dwelling, a strategic housing allocation, or a major infrastructure project, this case study shows how independent design review can materially strengthen the planning journey.

At The Design Review Panel, we support better design outcomes across the UK through constructive, professional and impartial feedback — helping applicants and decision-makers navigate complexity with confidence.

It was a real pleasure to chair a highly engaging and constructive in-person design review panel session for The Design Review Panel, including an excellent site visit for another exciting project in , in the .

My sincere thanks to our expert volunteer Panel members — Louise Baugh , Stephen Whettem, Nicholas Browne, and Arthur Tatchell — for their time, insight, and thoughtful contributions.

Thank you also to and David Jarvis Associates for inviting the Panel to provide an independent and impartial review. It was equally welcome to have .dc contributing positively to the discussion.

The Design Review Panel (www.designreviewpanel.co.uk) offers in-person and online design review sessions, with or without site visits, for projects across England. Sessions can be booked via our website, by email, or by telephone.

🔗 www.designreviewpanel.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 01395 265768

Many thanks to Andy Robbins for chairing an in-person Design Review Panel session for Midlands Design Review Panel yesterday, reviewing an exciting project in , close to .

Sincere thanks also to our expert volunteer Panel members Charlotte Lewis (Richborough) Graham Devine (LHC Design) Simon Noblet and Mark Cooper for their thoughtful and constructive contributions, and to Brian Mullin at Marrons for inviting the Panel to provide an independent and impartial review.

The Design Review Panel offers in-person and online design review sessions, with or without site visits, for projects anywhere across the UK. Sessions can be booked via our website, by email, or by telephone.

🔗 www.designreviewpanel.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 01395 265768






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A pleasure to chair an in-person Design Review Panel session yesterday for proposals on a beautiful site in Devon, in the South Hams. Remarkably, it may have been the only sunny day in December ☀️

Many thanks to our excellent volunteer Panel members — Kim Gray, Stephen Whettem, Mark Daley and Kate O’Neil — for generously giving their time, insight and professional expertise.

We are also grateful to Alex O’Connor at Squirrel Design, Ian Roach at Roach Planning, and Louise Baugh at the Swan Paul Partnership for inviting The Design Review Panel to provide an independent and impartial review at this early and formative stage of the project.

The Design Review Panel offers both in-person and online design review sessions (with or without site visits) for projects across the UK. To find out more or to make a booking, please visit our website or get in touch:

www.designreviewpanel.co.uk
[email protected]
01395 265768

A huge thank you to Andy Robbins for expertly chairing a recent in-person session for a major strategic urban extension in , 🏙️

Grateful thanks also to our fantastic volunteer Panel members – Graham Woodward, Jon Vernon Smith , David Simister and Damian Tungant – for so generously sharing their time and expertise.

We’re especially appreciative of Chris Webber at Harrow Estates, Will Price & Chris Odgers at Savills , Liz Symes at Fabrik, and Stuart Choke at Calibro Planning for inviting The Design Review Panel to provide an independent, impartial review at this formative stage of the project.

We offer both in-person and online design review sessions (with or without site visits) for projects anywhere in the UK. To book a review or find out more, get in touch:

🌐 www.designreviewpanel.co.uk
📧 [email protected]
📞 01395 265768