Design Advisory Panel
On 28 February 2015, the government announced a new Starter Homes initiative in England intended to give 100,000 first-time buyers under 40 a 20% discount on new homes. To ensure the high quality of these new homes, a Design Advisory Panel was established including architects Sir Terry Farrell and Sir Quinlan Terry, philosopher Roger Scruton and representatives from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the Design Council and Create Streets.
At the time, Sir Terry Farrell said: “This panel has the potential to make a real difference. It builds on the recommendations of the Farrell Review, which highlighted the need for more proactive planning and better placemaking as we attempt to address the housing crisis, with radically higher priority given to landscape, sustainability and the public realm.”
On 27 March 2015, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published ‘Starter Homes Design’, a set of design exemplars put together by the Design Advisory Panel to show what good quality starter homes could look like.
In February 2016, the RIBA reported that the Design Advisory Panel had been reconvened by the government, and its remit broadened to focus on three government policies:
The panel membership itself was also slightly changed.
Andrew Forth, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the RIBA, said, “It’s a question of identifying what planning tools are out there that have worked well on occasion and would be welcomed by local communities. There are tools that have worked well, such as design codes which we support, but they have not been applied consistently,’
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
A brief description of a smart construction dashboard, collecting as-built data, as a s site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure bill oulined
With reactions from IHBC and others on its potential impacts.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.