England’s regional place-making bodies have unveiled a new standard to raise the bar for designing homes, streets and places across every town and city.

Developed by The Design Network – a national body made up of six regional organisations, including Design South East – the National Design Review Charter sets out a shared approach to its work with developers, site promoters and local councils.

It sets the benchmark for design reviews, which bring professionals together to offer independent, expert advice on proposed developments at key stages of the planning process.

In coming together to launch the charter, Design Network members aim to connect national ambitions for more, faster building activity with local aspirations for good quality, sustainable, well-connected places.

Helen Goodwin, Head of Programmes at Design South East and Vice Chair of the Design Network, said: “The Charter sets the standard for Design Review across England, strengthening place-based delivery and partnerships.”

Anna Rutherford, CEO of Design West and Chair of The Design Network, said: “This charter is about building trust, expertise and partnership to deliver well designed places that everyone wants to see.

“Good design can accelerate delivery, and this charter will help to expand the vital role this plays in shaping vibrant, connected, sustainable, healthy places.”

Design Network teams have already supported more than 150 local planning authorities and deliver more than 500 design reviews each year. This national charter builds on that local experience, offering a consistent model to underpin the delivery of great places.

The charter brings together a national network of expertise, connecting more than 530 practitioners working in architecture, housing, masterplanning, inclusive design, health, landscape, climate, transport, heritage, regeneration and urban policy.

It outlines a rigorous approach to design review underpinned by core principles which are:

  • Independence – led by professionals with no direct connection to a developer or site promoter undertaking a review.
  • Expert – conducted by leading thinkers and doers known for their best practice. Panel members include specialists from HTA, Arup, Ramboll, FCB Studios, Savills, HLM, LDA Design, and many locally based practitioners.
  • Collaborative – working with planning authority and developer teams to promote design excellence.
  • Multidisciplinary – drawing on expertise in urban design, architecture, sustainability and the climate emergency, planning, landscape architecture, ecology, engineering, development economics, social inclusion, active travel and heritage.
  • Local – bringing in professionals with expertise of working across England with knowledge of local planning policy.
  • Timely – shaped by local expertise to inform efficient decisions that support better developments.
  • Consistent and accountable – shaped by these principles and supported by high quality design review reports with clear recommendations for partners to adopt.
  • Regularly reviewed and improved – with processes and panellists assessed every year to build best practice across England.

Design reviews shape major projects and policies, from strategic masterplans in Exeter to national Pathfinder programmes with Homes England.

The charter is available at designnetwork.org.uk.