Kingston Design Review Panel
The aim of design review is to improve design quality of the Borough’s built environment. Its role is to independently review development proposals and provide feedback to developers, clients and local authorities. Design review is a very valuable opportunity to get additional expert help with your project.
The Council expects all schemes which have a significant impact on the built environment, by nature of its scale, location or other sensitivities, to engage with the design review process. The panel meets monthly to review development proposals, which are presented to the panel by the project team. A report of the panel’s comments is made available to scheme promoter and planning officers for their consideration. While the role of the panel is advisory, the panel's comments can carry weight when decisions are made on planning applications.
Design review can add the most value and have the most beneficial impact when proposals are still under development. The Council would therefore expect design review to take place during the pre-application stage. For major schemes a follow up review may also be required. There is a cost associated with presenting a scheme to the panel, these costs will need to be met by the project team.
Panel Members
The Kingston Design Review Panel is made up of distinguished built environment professionals from a range of design disciplines including architecture, landscape, heritage and highways practitioners who have significant design expertise and can offer independent advice on all aspects of design and development.
Many of the panel members live locally and all have a keen interest in the built environment of Kingston.
The panel is managed on the Council’s behalf by Design South East, who are an independent charity specialising in design support.