 An RIBA south west award wining building at Exeter University in Devon; The Forum. This building benefited from design review during the design and pre-planning stage |  Design Review Panel training session carried out in Taunton and the Somerset County Cricket Ground in November 2018. The event was extremely well attended by local authority representatives, house builders and design team members |  Photograph of Exeter Quay taken by Architect and Design Review Panel Manager Jonathan Braddick. The Design Review Panel holds regular design review panel sessions at Exeter City Council |  Design Review Panel training event 2018. Jonathan Tricker, Highways Engineer, Urban Designer & Director at Phil Jones Associates, gave a talk entitled: ‘Highway Design in Placemaking’ |  The design review Panel was engaged by Willmott Dixon during the pre-application design stage of the project to help them prepare a design that would be acceptable to the local authority |
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 Photograph from a 2018 design review panel site visit carried out in Dorset in 2018. A full sit down design review panel was subsequently held in the Poole Borough Council Offices |  External visualization for a NPPF paragraph 55 (now 79) house that was presented to the design review panel. This project has subsequently gone on to achieve planning permission and is now built on site |  Design Review Panel training session carried out in Exeter, Devon in December 2017. The event was extremely well attended by local authority representatives, house builders and design team members |  A small but sensitive project in Exeter Quay; The Rockfish Restaurant has been designed by Grainge Architects who engaged with The Design Review Panel during the design & pre -application planning stage |  Pegasus Life secured planning permission through public inquiry for a Sarah Wigglesworth Architects scheme for a C2 assisted living community at The Knowle, Sidmouth, Devon. The Design Review Panel (www.designreviewpanel.co.uk) were instructed by East Devon District Council (EDDC) to provide multidisciplinary, expert, independent and impartial guidance and feedback to the local authority, applicant and design team during the pre-application design stage. |
 Photograph of Plymouth Hoe, Devon. The Design Review Panel holds regular design review panel sessions at Plymouth City Council |  Design Review Panel training session carried out in Exeter, Devon. The event was extremely well attended and incorporated a mock design review panel session and design workshop. |
We offer both in-person and online north east design review panel sessions & these should be booked using our online booking system below.
Site visits can be carried out in-person or online using 360 degree virtual photographic tours (click here to see an example).
North East Design Review Panel Sessions are split into 'major' and 'minor' project types:-
Minor Projects = 1 to 5 residential dwellings
Major Project = 5 or more residential dwellings and non-residential projects
Bookings for a North East Design Review Panel sesison are required a minimum of 14 days in advance and are only confirmed subject to receipt of cleared funds payment.
Once you have completed the booking request form you will receive an automated confirmation email containing payment details.
Information to be reviewed by the Panel is to be provided to the Design Review Panel using the blue 'Upload Files' button above, no later than 7 days in advance of the booked session date.
Introduction to The North East Design Review Panel
Welcome to The North East Design Review Panel, your leading source for independent and impartial design review services across the North East of England. Unlike other regional panels that may have contractual relationships with local authorities, which could lead to conflicts of interest, our panel operates independently from decision-makers and local authorities. This ensures a genuinely unbiased and impartial review process that benefits all stakeholders, including applicants, design teams, local communities, and local authorities.
Who We Are
The North East Design Review Panel is a trading style of The Design Review Panel and brings together a team of experienced professionals in architecture, urban planning, conservation/heritage, landscape design, ecology, highways, and sustainability. Our broad expertise allows us to provide comprehensive design reviews tailored to the unique needs of each project throughout the North East, including key towns and cities such as Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Middlesbrough, and Gateshead.
Our Mission
Our mission of The North East Design Review Panel is to promote design excellence and support the creation of vibrant, inclusive, and resilient spaces that enhance the quality of life. Through our meticulous review process, we aim to inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and uphold best practices in design and development.
What We Offer
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Independent Evaluation: As an independent panel, we provide unbiased and impartial evaluations of design proposals, ensuring transparency and integrity throughout the review process.
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Expert Guidance: Our experts offer constructive feedback and actionable suggestions to optimize design solutions, address challenges, and realize the full potential of each project.
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Strategic Insights: With our deep understanding of local contexts, regulatory frameworks, and emerging trends, we provide strategic insights and informed perspectives to support decision-making and drive positive change.
Why Choose Us
Choosing The North East Design Review Panel means choosing independence, impartiality, excellence, integrity, and innovation. Our commitment to quality and passion for design enable us to help applicants, design teams, and local authorities deliver projects that positively impact the built environment. Our truly independent process ensures fair and beneficial outcomes for all involved.
Get in Touch
Ready to elevate your design aspirations? Contact The North East Design Review Panel to learn more about our services or to schedule a design review. Let’s collaborate to create spaces that inspire, engage, and enrich the communities we serve across the North East of England, including Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Middlesbrough, and Gateshead.
Conclusion
At The North East Design Review Panel, we believe that great design has the power to transform lives and shape the future. Join us in our mission to make the North East a hub of design excellence and innovation. Together, we can create a built environment that reflects our values, aspirations, and shared vision for a brighter tomorrow.
Local authorities suppporting the design review panel process in the north east of England ...
The Design Review Panel provides its independent and impartial services directly to applicants, design teams and local authorities across the north east of England, including: County Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees, Tyne and Wear
Applicants may book a Design Review Panel sessions directly with the Panel for projects located anywhere in the north east, and the Panel's feedback is a material consideration in the planning process as per the National Planning Policy Framework. The design review panel process is actively used by local authorities across the north east region as part of their pre application process. Actively engaged local authorities across the north east include:-
Local Authority Names | Local Authority Websites |
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Allerdale Borough Council | https://www.allerdale.gov.uk |
Darlington Borough Council | https://www.darlington.gov.uk |
Durham County Council | https://www.durham.gov.uk |
Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council | https://www.gateshead.gov.uk |
Hartlepool Borough Council | https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk |
Middlesbrough Council | https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk |
Newcastle upon Tyne City Council | https://www.newcastle.gov.uk |
North Tyneside Council | https://www.northtyneside.gov.uk |
Northumberland County Council | https://www.northumberland.gov.uk |
Redcar and Cleveland | https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk |
South Tyneside Council | https://www.southtyneside.info |
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | https://www.stockton.gov.uk |
Sunderland City Council | https://www.sunderland.gov.uk |
Testimonial
"Swindon's ambitious growth and regeneration plans are generating a buzz around the town. To capitalise on the attention our town is receiving it is vital that Swindon Borough Council works proactively with developers. Our Planning Committee has given unanimous approval to the setting up of the Swindon Design Review Panel as a vehicle to foster collaboration with developers. The Panel will offer practical advice to developers to help improve schemes coming forward. In so doing, I expect the Panel to add significant value to the development process in Swindon." - David Dewart - Planning Manager, Swindon Borough Council - 2016
If you are an applicant or local authority and you wish to also engage to work with The Design Review Panel please email contact@designreviewpanel.co.uk or telephone 01395 265768