The London Design Review Charter

The core of a review is a discussion of a given project by expert independent, multi-disciplinary panellists, who act as critical friends. The aim is to provide guidance to help the project best serve its aims, considering where it is situated and the wider community.

Design review can support the development of scheme proposals. It can lead to schemes being adjusted and refined so that they are better able to create and maintain high quality places. This can add value for the investment proposed. Design review can also support the rejection of schemes which are poorly designed and inappropriate. Such schemes can damage the quality and character of a neighbourhood and how it functions.

These are many well-run panels covering local areas in London. However, research has shown that provision and consistency is variable. By providing a benchmark, the charter will give a consistent experience for applicants, promoters and panellists. It ensures that quality review processes are as useful as possible. This contributes to the delivery of good design and the creation and maintenance of high-quality places.

The charter has been developed with input from those running and using panels, as well as from reviewers. Signatories agree to the principles that the charter sets out, and to provide or use design review in a manner that is consistent with its contents.

The charter builds on the requirement set out in the National Planning Policy Framework that ‘local planning authorities should have local design review arrangements in place to provide assessment and support to ensure high standards of design’ (paragraph 62).

It also incorporates the widely accepted best practice document Design Review: Principles and Practice (Design Council CABE / Landscape Institute / RTPI / RIBA, 2013).

The current charter was last updated in January 2022.

Together with Urban Design London we recently commissioned a piece of research into how design review works for projects on the ground. This research by the Place Alliance based at University College London undertook in-depth interviews with applicants, designers, panellists and panel managers, providing a 360-degree analysis of the diversity of design review practice across London. Its findings are of use to panel managers everywhere and clearly indicates the benefits of high quality design review.