PART TWO

DESIGN SESSION

For Cornwall Council

Royal Institute of British Architects

Planning agents forum

Introduction

Cian Spowart • RIBA Cornwall Chair • Director PBWC Architects Ltd

RIBA Cornwall is a branch in the South West Region. We organise a number of activities for members, related professions and the general public.

RIBA Cornwall

We are affiliated with the Cornwall Architectural Trust. This is the charitable arm of the RIBA Cornwall Branch, raising awareness of architecture across the region and supporting various education projects and Lectures.

We hold quarterly Planning Liaison Meetings with Cornwall Council to work together to improve the planning process. We also part of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Construction Strategy Steering Group

RIBA Cornwall

Today in the first part I am going to discuss a few activities we have been trying to develop with the Council to foster better Collaboration and ultimately lead to better quality developments. In the second part I want to touch on some of the Technology we’ve been working with in the last few years and the potential it has to support better quality design.

Todays event

Design and Cornwall Council

Design has finally reached the top of our agenda, with a pro-active Portfolio Holder over the last 4 years and a Director keen to see higher quality schemes built in the Duchy. Through: • Re-launch of the Design Review Panel • Use of the Local Plan Design Policies • Refresh of the Cornwall Design Guide • Chief Officer Guidance Note on Design • Secondment of senior officers to promote the cause,

additional resources. • Training events • Strong message to developers • Importance of working in partnership……

Collaboration

Initial meetings took place in 2012 to strengthen the relationship between Architects and planners. Soon became clear that both Cornwall Council elected members and case offers could do with more support. Two elements were identified: 1. Providing design workshops for

local Councillors & local members to better understand design.

2. Supporting the Planning authorities Case officer training events.

Councillor & elected member training events An idea formed around helping advise Councillors on the merits of good design and how it could be considered. Case officers were helping Councillors already but saw an opportunity for someone external to help them facilitate a workshop to help them: • Understand and read planning

information

• Consider design and think positively about opportunities applications presented.

Collaboration

The training workshops were developed to be a half day exercise. The key was to be collaborative and draw involvement from Local councillors to look specifically around design. We wanted to avoid focusing on styles and problems and so looked to set up themes for the session to keep them structured.

Collaboration

In this most recent session the architects and case officers carried out a Placemaking workshop discussing what makes a place and the importance of considering ‘in-between spaces’ and materiality in a design. This was also received well and prompted further debate around distinctive design and the pro’s and Con’s of some local housing schemes.

Collaboration

All around the sessions were very successful, The principal challenge faced by the team was to not get stuck into specific problem projects Councillors had experienced but rather work with them to celebrate successful schemes and approaches they had taken. It was also key not to over promise what can be done. Key lessons learnt were:

Collaboration

• Keep a dialogue going • Have a clear idea of what you

want to achieve • Record the outcome • Invite members to other events • Remember we are all on the

same side

Collaboration

Development Staff Conferences – April 2016 Initially these consisted of small informal group sessions – aimed at prompting discussions via a series of questions and case studies. We looked to promote best practice and show successful schemes that the authority have delivered and why we feel they have been successful.

Development Staff Conferences – 2017 Presentation of what the RIBA branch does, what resources local architects use, our influences and offer some insights into challenging and sensitive projects

Collaboration

Future Collaborative Working

Planning Buddy Initiative In parallel we are also now currently trialing a planning buddy initiative with a few Chartered architects from 3HW & Atelier3. It involves Chartered Architects and Planners to sign up and offer a some impartial advice. Each party can then understand each other’s pressures and build a stronger working relationship. The relationship to be reciprocal and we understand the trial is going well. RIBA Cornwall is keen to keep supporting this initiative and welcomes practices to come forward if they would like to be involved.

Technology & Design

Innovations in technology particularly BIM offer new opportunities for developing designs to more detail at an earlier stage and offers the opportunity for greater clarity over design. 3D modelling enables visualisation of projects and helps everyone understand schemes more easily.

Technology & Design

Cloud point data scanning can be combined with 3D modelling to give accurate context to projects. It is extremely useful in difficult to reach sites or where projects have sensitive issues around overlooking…neighbours views can be accurately mapped to manage expectations.

Technology & Design

VR Headsets are an accessible piece of technology that allow people to understand upcoming projects. It was successfully used at the new Callywith College in Bodmin to market the project to prospective students before opening in September 17.

Technology & Design

Technology offer great opportunity but advances should be considered: The technology can provide faster results but the design still needs to be tested and reviewed. The presentation of imagery becomes more important. Care needs to be taken to develop and illustrate images so that they accurately reflect the proposals. Technology should be a tool to create a better design, it should not define it.

Future events

Friday November 10th we will be holding the annual Cornwall Architectural Trust Autumn Lecture & Dinner with speaker Eric Parry. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Any Questions?

Where to find out more

Please visit www.cornwallarchitecture.com www.architecture.com www.cornwall.gov.uk Or contact: Cian Spowart – cian@pbwc.co.uk

Thank you

Cornwall & Design Review 2017

Steve Havers / Tim Marsh / Steve Kirby

Planning and Sustainable Development Service.

Focus on design

• Local Plan Policy

• Chief Planner Advice Notes

• Design Guide – Review

• DM – robustness, negotiation and consistency

• Ongoing liaison & engagement

• Resources - secondments

Chief Planner’s Advice Note

• Statement of intention

• Targeting smaller schemes

(9 [10] principles)

• Feedback so far

• Emphasis on Context

• Must not be prescriptive or ‘default’

• Require justification of schemes

• DM officers negotiate

• Further detail in the Design Guide

Components of the Design Guide

• Importance of design

‘Think Cornwall, think landscape, think place’.

• Get design process right

• Site context and appraisal

• Community/Neighbour engagement

• Evidence

• Case studies

• Design process to inform good quality Design and Access Statements that are easily understandable and demonstrate accord with Cornwall Local Plan.

Next steps

• Chief Planner’s Advice Notes

issue November

• Design Guide – consultation

Winter

• Ongoing liaison

• Training – cllrs & staff

• Peer review – Design Review

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Cornwall Design Review Panel Mark Pearson (Chairman)

www.cornwall.gov.uk

ROAD DESIGN Anthony Rayworth & Sharon Bundy

www.cornwall.gov.uk

DRAINAGE DESIGN Jackie Smith

www.cornwall.gov.uk

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE – The PERFECT Interreg Project PERFECT (Planning for Environment and Resource eFficiency in European Cities and Towns) builds on the success of previous TCPA-led, EU-funded projects on planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation. PERFECT aims to improve the implementation of regional development policies and programmes, in particular investment for jobs and growth, through the integration and awareness-raising of the multiple benefits of green infrastructure into partner municipalities. It will:

•identify and analyse good practice in multi-use of Green Infrastructure;

•fully engage Managing Authorities on the socio-economic benefits of Green Infrastructure to influence new projects and improve governance of policy instruments;

•increase the professional capacity of key stakeholders in delivering new projects, and;

•develop action plans focusing on policy change to influence strategic investment in green infrastructure based on its multiple benefits.

www.cornwall.gov.uk

& don’t forget waste!

• Waste Planning Guidance Developers Checklist - CC

• ‘Making space for Waste – Designing waste management in new developments’ (2010)

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Nor Sustainable design and construction

• Incorporating renewables

• Energy efficient buildings

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Workshop/Discussion

• The challenge of co-ordinating all these factors

• What we will do…?

• What can you do…?

• What can we do together?

www.cornwall.gov.uk

Questions?

• From the Questions Board

• From the floor.