DESIGN SUPPORT SERVICES

We provide a range of on‐demand Design Support services to Local Planning Authorities. The services set out below are a guide to the ways in which support can be delivered.

Each of these should be considered as flexible, it is possible to provide bespoke services to Authorities or groups of Authorities. We are also happy to advise on how these services can be funded through a variety of different mechanisms; including pre‐application charges, planning performance agreements and Section 106 contributions.

All of the services below are governed by the same principles of being

- Expert ‐ giving you access to a very high level of professional skills, including architecture environmental sustainability, landscape architecture and urban design
- Independent ‐ we sit between the public and private sectors, offering impartial advice through a managed process designed to avoid conflicts; neutral and unbiased
- Embedded ‐ providing specific and continuous support to Authorities based on an understanding of place and context
- Timely ‐ ensuring that the advice is valuable to you, the design team and developer and does not act to frustrate the planning process

Design Review

One of the most well known and proficient means of design support is Design Review. We set up and manage the South East Regional Design Panel, a group of expert practitioners with a clear knowledge of the South East. We convene an expert Panel of 4‐5 members to question and critique the proposed development following a visit to the development site.

The design review process works best when the proposed development is pre‐application and in the earlier stages of development. Up to five schemes can be reviewed on the same day, all of which will be formally documented by KAC staff and reported in the form of a letter to all present at the meeting.

South East Regional Design Panel review with 4‐5 Panel members supported by our staff
Single item £3,500
Additional items £750 each

Design Surgery

A whole or half day design surgery can be convened to review one scheme in detail or up to four individual schemes at one meeting. Our staff and a single independent expert sit alongside planning staff to explore and help to broker the optimum design and development solution for sites.

The surgery model has particular value in finding viable design resolutions for smaller sites or developments and helping to communicate the value of design. The surgery model works best where multiple schemes with similar challenges can be considered at one time.

Surgery with practitioner and our staff
Single item £1,500
Additional items £750 each*
*Cost savings can be made where items are reported informally rather than formally documented

Design Workshops

Design workshops can be a very effective way of bringing people together. Using a round-table format and the expertise and experience of our staff and the South East Panel to understand, critique and explore fresh ideas for complex developments, often where design has become a divisive issue.

We can act as an independent third party facilitator to assist in brokering workable solutions, delivered with or without additional professional expertise.

Single item (with Panel) £3,500
Workshop facilitation £1,500

Building for Life Independent Assessment Service

Building for Life assessments are offered on a flexible basis.

The guide cost for the assessment of one scheme is £675.00 which includes a half day site visit and one day desk-top assessment process.  Assessments are carried out in 5 working days.

For more information about Design Support services and the South East Regional Design Panel please contact Robert Offord – robert.offord@architecturecentre.org