Member Article

Planning and design experts join new Haringey Quality Review Panel

Leading planners, architects and construction experts have joined a new Haringey Council panel to maintain a high standard of design in new developments in the borough.

The 20-strong Haringey Quality Review Panel, an independent group of experienced professionals from a broad range of backgrounds, will scrutinise designs in major planning applications and give clear guidance to developers before schemes are considered by the council’s Planning Committee.

As the council works with residents on major regeneration plans in Tottenham and Wood Green, the panel – which also includes engineers and experts in heritage and sustainability – will test new proposals against Haringey’s new Development Quality Charter, which sets out a clear commitment to high-quality design at the forefront of all new development.

Peter Studdert, who also chairs a post-London 2012 panel shaping the designs of developments in and around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will lead Haringey’s group which will aim to review proposals at an early stage.

The former Planning Director of Cambridge City Council, Peter’s 35-year career also includes planning advisor roles at Historic England (formerly English Heritage) and the Design Council.

Vice-chairs Esther Kurland, Director of not-for-profit group Urban Design London, and LDA Design regeneration masterplanner Selina Mason join built environment professionals, including a proportion that live and work locally, to make up the panel.

Peter Studdert said: “Haringey is facing some major regeneration challenges and the Quality Review Panel will provide support to the borough in ensuring that new developments are well designed and provide positive benefits for the local community”.

Four to five members of the panel will meet monthly to consider applications referred by the council, and will be managed externally, by Frame Projects, to ensure its independence.

Councillor Ali Demirci, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: “The wealth of experience and expertise of our new Quality Review Panel strengthens our ambition that new developments in Haringey should be the highest quality in our city.

“Our ambitious regeneration plans will bring significant development to our borough, and the support and guidance of this panel will guard against poor, badly-designed proposals before they even reach the Planning Committee.

“It’s vital that we insist on top-rate design that supports a community that is good to live in, fits in with the borough’s heritage and improves the lives of our residents.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .