“Good design has the power to change our lives for the better,” was the message as the architects of Croydon’s Place Review Panel explained its purpose.
The newly-established panel was set up to provide independent advice to improve development quality in the borough. It will work with developers at the pre-planning stage.
It held its first review the day before the Placemaking Croydon conference where its role was discussed.
The panel has three chairs, 23 panellists and seven reserves. One chair and five panellists will meet on a review day which will be held once a month. Up to four schemes will be reviewed on the day which will include a panel briefing, site visit and a presentation from the applicant’s team. A report will be fed back to the officers.
Angela Brady, joint panel chair and co-founder and director of Brady Mallalieu Architects, said “It is a panel of experts and there is so much thought coming from different angles. The idea is to be a critical friend, giving positive advice. Good design has the power to change our lives for the better.”
Discussion chair Paul Finch added: “It is an open door process to get schemes through the planning process more quickly.”
