top of page
The Forum Exeter, Devon

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 2018

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

Exeter Quay by Jonathan Braddick

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 2018

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’

Steiner School Exeter

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

Design Review Panel Site Visit Poole

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

North Grays Farm Para 80 House

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 2017

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

Exeter Quay - Rockfish Restaurant

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

Extra Care Development by Sarah Wigglesworth Architects

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.

Plymouth Hoe

Photograph of Plymouth Hoe, Devon. The Design Review Panel holds regular design review panel sessions at Plymouth City Council

Design Review Panel Training

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.

Search

Fizmer House: A Paragraph 84e Success in Nottinghamshire Supported by The Design Review Panel

Project Name: Fizmer House

Project Description: Erection of a New Dwelling Partial Change of Use of Land from Agricultural to Residential, Improvements to Existing Access,& Significant Landscape Enhancements.

Project Address: Fizmer Plantation Lane Blyth Worksop

Planning Reference: 24/00882/FUL

Planning Consultant: Axiom Planning

Architect: Lodge Studio Architects

Landscape Architect: Studio 31


We are delighted to share news of a planning permission that has been granted for "Fizmer House," a truly exceptional countryside dwelling approved under Paragraph 84e (formerly Paragraph 80/79/55) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).


Brick house with thatched roofs, surrounded by lush greenery and gardens. A person tends plants. Sky is overcast, creating a serene mood.
Entrance view of the Fizmer Para84e House in Nottinghamshire, featuring a modern architectural design with brick structures, lush greenery, and a tranquil garden setting.

This bespoke, landscape-led home, situated within open countryside in the Bassetlaw District of Nottinghamshire, is an exemplary illustration of how thoughtful and contextually responsive architecture can succeed through a rigorous and collaborative design process. The independent Design Review Panel [www.designreviewpanel.co.uk] was instrumental in this project’s successful outcome, providing critical and constructive input at key stages and affirming the vital role of early and continued design review for innovative rural developments.


Fizmer House was conceived with a deep sensitivity to its setting within the grounds of a Listed Estate. The architectural approach was both bold and respectful, thoughtfully integrating contemporary design with heritage appreciation. Central to the project's success was its meticulous landscape integration, environmental responsiveness, and sustainable design, employing locally inspired materials such as timber shingles and green roofs to ensure harmony with its woodland context.


Aerial view of a landscaped garden with zones: Production, Dwelling, Natural. Pathways, trees, and labeled areas form an organized layout.
Landscape plan of Fizmer Para84e House in Nottinghamshire, highlighting distinct zones including a production area, main dwelling, and natural surroundings.

The proposal benefitted greatly from the independent scrutiny and guidance provided by The Design Review Panel through a series of comprehensive design reviews. This structured process commenced with an initial full panel site visit and presentation, offering Panel members an immersive understanding of the site’s unique characteristics and challenges. This was followed by detailed online discussions and a final desktop review, each session providing multidisciplinary expertise that directly informed and refined the design to meet the exceptionally high standards required by Paragraph 84e of the NPPF.


Modern brick building surrounded by lush garden and trees, with a person walking on a path. Clear sky and peaceful atmosphere.
Modern architectural design of Fizmer Para84e House in Nottinghamshire, showcasing a serene garden view with lush greenery and contemporary brick structures.

The tangible impact of the Panel’s involvement is highlighted in the planning officer’s report from Bassetlaw District Council, which explicitly acknowledges the value and importance of design review:

“It is noted that the applicant has sought advice from an independent Design Review Panel (DRP)... Engagement with DRPs is encouraged in paragraph 138 of the NPPF and accordingly the inspectorate has awarded weight to design with design review panel input in previous decision making.”

Further, the report notes:

“The design review panel have met on numerous occasions with the final meeting dated 10/05/2024. At this meeting the design review panel feedback was extremely positive and supports the choice of site. They consider that the proposal now meets the criteria of Para 84(e) of the NPPF. They conclude that the modest design inspired by local vernacular estate woodlands buildings results in an attractive and harmonious arrangement.”

These statements clearly demonstrate how The Design Review Panel’s professional insights were integral to the Local Planning Authority’s decision-making process, significantly influencing the successful outcome.


Peaceful rural scene with a gravel path winding through lush green trees and grass. Birds are flying in the sky. A serene atmosphere.
Serene approach to Fizmer Para84e House in Nottinghamshire, featuring a tranquil gravel path winding through lush greenery under a clear sky.

We are also delighted to share the following testimonial from Daniel Gender-Sherry, Director of Axiom Planning, who expressed his appreciation of our collaborative efforts:

"We are thrilled to announce that Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council have granted planning permission for a new countryside home of exceptional quality under NPPF Paragraph 84e. Securing consent under delegated authority was the cherry on top of a remarkable three-year journey.The independent Design Review Panel [www.designreviewpanel.co.uk] played a crucial role in critiquing our proposal, especially given the site's location within the grounds of a Listed Estate. Our engagement with the Panel included three rounds of review: starting with a full panel site visit and in-person presentation, followed by an online review, and concluding with a final desktop review. Throughout each Review, the Panel provided valuable feedback in response to an articulate and well-managed process.The Local Authority rightly assigned significant weight to the advice from the independent Design Review Panel, which endorsed the site choice and confirmed full compliance with NPPF Paragraph 84e."

Fizmer House exemplifies how early engagement with an independent design review can significantly enhance the planning outcome for projects of this nature.


Brick house with gray roof set in a lush garden, surrounded by trees. A peaceful and natural atmosphere under a cloudy sky.
Wild garden at Fizmer Para84e House in Nottinghamshire, showcasing a serene view of modern architecture amidst lush greenery and flowering plants.

We encourage future applicants to harness the considerable benefits offered by engaging early and proactively with The Design Review Panel, ensuring their designs are not only innovative but also fully compliant with national planning standards.

Congratulations again to everyone involved in this outstanding achievement.



 

Comments

bottom of page