OPUN DESIGN SUPPORT PANEL
OPUN is an Architecture Centre, part of the Architecture Centre Network and runs one of eight Design Review Panels affiliated to Design Council Cabe. As part of our affiliation we receive funding towards a proportion of the cost of the service to enable us to subsidise the delivery of Design Review to our clients. The OPUN Panel adheres to the ten principles for effective Design Review as set out by Design Council Cabe.
Design Review Panels form one element of the wider OPUN Design Support Service that also include design surgeries and desktop reviews. OPUN also operates an Enabling and Engagement service and offers accredited Building for Life assessment and public consultation using the CABE Spaceshaper methodology.
Our Expert Panel members provide a wide range of design support to OPUN, including Design Review. OPUN Panel members are independent and support OPUN’s objectives of promoting good design.
Our Expert Panel members have a thorough understanding of design and procurement issues for individual buildings or masterplans. Panel members work for honoraria as part of their commitment to the quality of the built environment in the East Midlands. Panel members are leaders in their field, professionally qualified in one or more of the core professions involved in the design and construction of the built environment; for example: architects, urban designers, planners, planning and heritage consultants, landscape architects, project managers, engineers, property and quantity surveyors, clients, experts in regeneration and project viability, sustainability and low carbon, art commissioning and community cohesion. If independently commissioned a Panl Member’s daily rate would on average we way in excess of what OPUN charges.
The Panel supports and advocates the delivery of sustainable, high quality and well-planned buildings and places by providing independent and impartial advice on design. The main purpose of the Panel is to identify opportunities where the quality of design can be raised, and seek to offer constructive advice to secure betterment in the built environment.
OPUN has approximately 50 Expert Panel Members - a selection is presented below. Please contact us to discuss the type of support and skills set needed.
1. Independent: It is conducted by people who are separate from the scheme promoter and decision-maker, and it protects against conflicts of interest.
2. Accountable: It records and explains its advice and is transparent about potential conflicts of interest.
3. Expert: It is conducted by suitably trained people who are experienced in design and know how to criticise constructively. Review is usually most respected where it is carried out by professional peers of the project designers, as their standing and expertise will be acknowledged.
4. Advisory: It does not make decisions. It acts as a source of impartial advice for decision-makers.
5. Accessible: Its findings are clearly expressed in terms that decision-makers can understand and use.
6. Proportionate: It is used on projects whose significance warrants the public investment of providing design review at national, regional and local level, as appropriate. Other methods of appraising design quality should be used for less significant projects.
7. Timely: It takes place as early as possible in the life of a design because this saves the most time and costs less to make changes. If a planning application has already been made, it happens within the timeframe for considering it. And it is repeated when a further opinion is required.
8. Objective: It appraises schemes in the round according to reasoned, objective criteria rather than the stylistic tastes of individual panel members.
9. Focussed on outcomes for people: It asks how this building or place can better meet the needs of the people using it, and of the public at large who are affected by it.
10. Focussed on improving quality: It constructively seeks to improve the quality of architecture, urban design, landscape, highway design and town planning.
Meet the Panel
Planning Sustainability Panel Member Enabler Clive is the owner and principal of Clive Keble...
An independent specialist enabler in housing regeneration and design, community-led masterplanning and...
Dip.Arch, BA (Hons) (Arch) ARB Andy is an Associate Architect at Evans Vettori Architects. He works on...
BA(Hons) DipArch PGDipArchPract MScCHE(Dist) IHBC RIBA Peter is a Chartered Architect (RIBA) and Urban...
Stefan is a Recognised Practitioner in Urban Design and divides his time between his role as Principal...
MRTPI IHBC Dave is Director of DJC1 Planning Limited, he specializes in planning, regeneration,...
