4th Fl. Building II, Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4DQ

T: 029 2045 1964 F: 029 2045 1958www.dcfw.org

Comisiwn Dylunio Cymru

Design Commission for Wales

Established by Welsh Assembly Governmentwith Four Strategic Aims

To champion high standards of design and architecture to the private and public sector in Wales by promoting wider understanding of design issues and the importance of good standards in enhancing the built environment across all sectors.

To promote design practice compatible with the National Assembly Sustainable Development Scheme, promoting best practice in energy efficiency, waste disposal and public transport

To promote design practice compatible with the highest standards in relation to equal opportunity and promoting social inclusion

To give due regard to promoting excellence in day to day developments such as housing estates and industrial units, as well as promoting excellence in prestige projects

Who are we?

Company limited by guarantee/wholly owned subsidiary WAG

Report to Minister for Environment Planning and Countryside

Cross party/cross portfolio support; Cabinet sub-committees

Chair and 7 Commissioners; Chief executive and team of 6

Design Review Panel: 23 specialists, comments can represent “material considerations”, authoritative view recognised by the Planning Inspectorate

Focus on public realm; housing; schools; health estates; public and private sector procurement

Context: Welsh Assembly Government Strategies

•Wales a Better Country:

•A Winning Wales:

Economic Development Strategy

•The Learning Country:

Wales’ Education Strategy

•Planning Policy Wales (TAN12)

•Draft Environment Strategy

•Sustainable Development:

(Scheme/Action Plan)

•Wales Spatial Plan

•Departmental Strategies:

•Education, Culture, Health etc

Advice to WAG projects, Advice to SD Cabinet sub-committeeProcurement guide for WAG in progress

Design Review: c100 schemes; 80% satisfaction; 74% changes of which 34% major changes

Building for Life: Wales www.buildingforlifewales.orgWelsh Health Estates Design Champions; procurement advisory

board

Education and professional training: Renewable Energy; Sustainable design & construction; Urban design short courses for LPA’s; Member Development programme (PDW/WLGA);

Schools education pilot project 2005 – publication 2006; Design Reviewed publication 2006

Research: PhD with Cardiff University/ESRC 2006 -2009; International dimension (Urban Legacies; Arco Madrid; Venice Architecture Biennale)

Publications: Design Reviewed, Wind Energy Report, POSW Residential Design Guides;

Conferences RSAW 2005; Landscape Institute 2006Annual events: Urban Design Week; Architecture Week

Projects and Achievements 2002 - 2005

What is good design?

‘Commodity, firmness and delight’: or functional, structurally and environmentally sound, and pleasing to the community and users

Taking considerations required in WAG’s TAN 12: Design:

– Sustainable location, land use and mix, resource consumption andcommunity impact

– Responds positively to site and context to reinforce a sense of place– Creates a quality public realm that is accessible , comfortable and attractive– Accommodates a variety of uses and tenures: inclusive– Creates flexible, adaptable, accessible buildings and spaces and fine

architecture– Maximises the ‘whole life’ value of the development

•Better materials/finishes, more generous amenities can cost more

•Many design improvements will save money (compact development)

•Others cost nothing (e.g. building orientation)

•Good design unlocks value on constrained sites: more floor space/units; increased return; better fit community needs

•Landscaping is cheap but site sensitivity is cheaper still

•Speculative developers will reduce design costs to improve returns - occupiers and the wider community will pay the price

Does good design cost more?

Costs: 1:5:200The cost of running and maintaining a building over its working life can be five times its capital construction costs, while costs for end users/occupiers/workforce can be 200 times as much.

Design costs equal 0.1

Good design helps to deliver flexible, adaptable, efficient buildings, in well supported locations, fitting service delivery needs and business priorities. Capital cost cutting = poor design = poor value for the end user/occupier.

Source: Royal Academy of Engineering – reinforced 2004

Whole Life Costs

DesignCosts 0.1

ConstructionCosts 1

MaintenanceCosts 5

All revenue costs 200

TIME for DESIGN: The diagram below demonstrates the value of preparation and detailed work at early stages to avoid future difficulties and problems that may occur, and to ensure the highest design quality possible – DCFW engagement most valuable at early stages

What is the value of good design?

Environmental• Lower environmental impact-global and local• Potential positive impacts on landscape and ecology

Social• Better places to live, work, heal, learn• Higher quality of life• Higher maintenance and social/civic ownership

Economic• Attracts more investors• Attracts more customers and trade• Better staff retention, pupil attainment, patient outcomes• More discerning and productive workforce

Financial:• Lower maintenance and running costs• Longer investment life• More sustainable• Better planning approvals

What are the costs of bad design?

Environmental: Constructing, occupying and maintaining buildings accounts for 50% of all CO2 emissions*

- further 10% arises from production of construction materials- homes account for almost 25%*- waste from UK construction industry amounts to 151 million tonnes per annum or

35% total waste- the industry consumes per annum 6 tonnes of building materials per head of population

(*Source ODPM and BRE)

Social: Poorer places to live; diminished quality of life; conditions for increased anti-social behaviour, poorer health, poverty of provision

Economic: Less attractive to investors and visitors; depresses investment prospects,

Financial: Inherent conflict in procurement – need for more collaborative patternsHigher running and maintenance costs; Shorter investment life; Slower planningapprovals; YET - Poor design may still sell and meet market niche

All are barriers to sustainable development

How DCFW can help?

• Training for planners, councillors and WDA Area Development Managers – urban design, policy context, sustainable design and construction, working with renewable energy

• Advocacy, dissemination lessons

• Advice on briefing and team building

• Procurement guidance

• Exemplar projects (Building for Life etc)

• Design Review

DCFW’s Design Review serviceOne of DCFW’s major activities alongside promoting good design, training, education, procurement and technical advice

Developed as an information gathering and advisory function

Drew on international best practice: used CABE model, adapted to minimal resource models (e.g. Vancouver): peer review to raise design standards

Review staffed by part-time officer and two graduate assistants

23 professionals recruited from many built environment professions - architecture, urban and landscape design, planning, engineering, development

All appointed by competitive interview – all unremunerated.

Meetings monthly

Why embark on design review?

Contribute to improved project design through dialogue and critique at a formative stage

For DCFW vital outreach to, and dialogue with, communities, designers, developers and LPAs all across Wales

Intelligence gathering about barriers to good design in Wales and dissemination of findings

Develop an expert body/network of committed and skilled “foot soldiers”at your disposal

Provide a support pool for design champions

Identify areas for training and skill development programmes

What projects are reviewed?

Those significant because of size and impact or site

Those with an importance greater than the above would suggest

Public investment

Those which exemplify persistent design problems affecting communities

In practice (2003-5) reviewed almost all projects referred to DCFW

Service demand requires second smaller scale review meeting allowing written guidance on submitted schemes and special benchmark reviews – WAG Transport and relocation teams

Masterplans

Major med & low rise residential

High rise residential

Minor residential & intensification

Major town centre retail

Supermarkets

Town centre commercial

Major leisure

Out of town business

Roads, bridges and public realm

Institutional incl university & school

Visitor centres

Design ReviewProject Locations

Project Classification

171828

3446

8082

47

45

8

1215

16

19

21

2633

37

42 5257 6065

687279

81

86

88236985

1462

63

4953

66

719

20

35 3640

59

7487 89

757

1148

1

3038

445154

56

7678

8384

50

2

3

10

77

624

4358

2764

70

1329

67

222531 32 456173

3941

1718

28 3446

Newport

Cardiff

Blaenau –Gwent

Torfaen

Gwynedd

ConwyDenbigh-shire

Isle of Anglesey Flintshire

Wrexham

Powys

Ceredigion

CarmarthenshirePembrokeshire

NeathPortTalbot

Swansea Bridgend

Vale of Glam,

RCT

MT

Caerph

Mon

Pontypridd

Bethlehem

CISV

Snowdon

Celestia, Cardiff BayFerrara Quay Swansea

Ebbw Vale 2Newport 2

The Design Review process

Under constant review and developmentTraining days, formal feedback, debate, CABE liaison Conflicts of interest - robust systems

Monthly meeting: six schemes: 75 mins eachDrawings 10days in advance: a panellist briefs Panel after site visit20 minute max presentation: 50 minutes dialogueContrast with CABE: no officer preparation or panellist statements but Q&A and open discussion: from context to detailChair verbal summary: then brief panel discussionWritten report (3-5pp) within 14 days, Public comment made only on schemes in planning processEarly confidential dialogueReports on website; bi-Annual Design Review publication

Issues that need to be addressed

the quality of analysis of site and context

the level of public consultation and the existence of consensus about desirable forms of development

the economic feasibility of the proposals given local market conditions, and committed public funds for infrastructure and services

the nature of the partnership, the political commitment to the project, and the real consensus about desired levels of quality

the delivery mechanisms and their effectiveness in the face of established speculative development practices.

Are reviews improving designs?

Modest evidence to suggest they areEvaluation results promising but change is still at the margins - modificationsPositive feedback from those who have used review (Roberts MAUD survey) c100 schemes; 80% satisfaction; 74% changes of which 34% major changes

Strengthening the impact of our comments and their incorporation into Development Control decisionsAdopting an approve/amend/reject assessment Increased demand for service – earlier in the processResource for design teams, client - authorities, health professionals

Conscientiously publicise our reports for press – dissemination lessonsEducation programme - schoolsTraining programme – professionals

Develop an enabling capacity – client support Longer term involvement in schemes

PCKO, Tai Carterfi, Gwalia Housing Group

Plas y Môr, Assisted Living Day Centre, Burry Port

Awards:

Welsh Housing Design Award 2004

Western Mail Innovation Award 2005

WM/Your Move Residential Development of the Year 2005

Academi Frenhinol Gymreig,

The Royal Cambrian Academy, Crown Lane, Conwy

Nicholas Hare Architects & MEPC, No 1 Callaghan Square, Cardiff

Home to Eversheds and ING; Eisteddfod Gold Medal Winner 2003

Dyfi Eco-park Machynlleth

Sovereign Quay, Cardiff Bay

Llanfyllin Medical Centre, Powys

Use the service - contact us:

Cindy Harris – Development Officer Design Review

Machynlleth direct line: T: 0870 1160260

Cardiff Office: T: 029 2045 1964 F: 029 2045 1958

Email: cindy.harris@dcfw.org

Charlie Deng – Design Review assistant

Email: charlie.deng@dcfw.org

Cardiff Office: T: 029 2045 1964 F: 029 2045 1958

Web: www.dcfw.org Email: info@dcfw.org

4th Fl. Building II, Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4DQ

T: 029 2045 1964 F: 029 2045 1958www.dcfw.org

Comisiwn Dylunio Cymru

Design Commission for Wales