 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 west midlands design review panel sessions across the west midlands & 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).
West midlands 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 West Midlands 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.
Independent & Impartial West Midlands Design Review Panel: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Dudley & Surrounding Areas
Introduction to The West Midlands Design Review Panel
Welcome to The West Midlands Design Review Panel, your premier provider of independent and impartial design review services across the West Midlands. Unlike other regional panels that may have ongoing contractual relationships with local authorities, potentially resulting in conflicts of interest, our panel distinguishes itself by being completely independent from decision-makers and local authorities. This ensures a truly unbiased and impartial process that benefits all stakeholders, including applicants, design teams, local communities, and local authorities.
Who We Are
At The West Midlands Design Review Panel, we bring together a team of seasoned professionals with extensive experience in architecture, urban planning, conservation/heritage, landscape design, ecology, highways, and sustainability. Our diverse expertise enables us to provide comprehensive and holistic design reviews tailored to meet the unique needs of each project throughout the West Midlands, including all its boroughs.
Our Mission
Our mission is to champion design excellence and advocate for the creation of vibrant, inclusive, and resilient spaces that enhance the quality of life for all. Through our rigorous review process, we strive to inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and promote best practices in the field of design and development.
What We Offer
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Independent Evaluation: As an independent design review panel, we offer unbiased and impartial evaluations of design proposals, ensuring transparency and integrity throughout the review process.
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Expert Guidance: Our team of experts provides constructive feedback and actionable suggestions to help optimize design solutions, address challenges, and unlock the full potential of each project.
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Strategic Insights: With our in-depth understanding of local contexts, regulatory frameworks, and emerging trends, we offer strategic insights and informed perspectives to support informed decision-making and drive positive change.
Why Choose The West Midlands Design Review Panel
Choosing The West Midlands Design Review Panel means choosing independence, impartiality, excellence, integrity, and innovation. With our unwavering commitment to quality and our passion for design, we are dedicated to helping applicants, design teams, and local authorities deliver projects that positively impact the built environment. Our truly independent process sets us apart, ensuring a fair and beneficial outcome for all involved.
Get in Touch with The West Midlands Design Review Panel
Ready to elevate your design aspirations? Contact The West Midlands 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 throughout the West Midlands.
Conclusion
At The West Midlands Design Review Panel, we believe that great design has the power to transform lives and shape the future. Join us on our mission to make the West Midlands a hub of design excellence and innovation. Together, we can create a built environment that reflects our values, aspirations, and collective vision for a brighter tomorrow.
Local authorities suppporting the design review panel process in the west midlands ...
The Design Review Panel provides its independent and impartial services directly to applicants, design teams and local authorities across the west midlands, including: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton
Applicants may book a Design Review Panel sessions directly with the Panel for projects located anywhere in the west midlands, 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 west midlands region as part of their pre application process. Actively engaged local authorities across the west midlands include:-
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
