Design Review is a widely used, nationally and internationally accepted form of improving the design quality of projects.
Design Review Panels (DRPs) or similar (Design Advisory Panels, Design Excellence Panels) currently exist at a local government level, often in the form of Housing SEPP panels; at a state level in the form of the State Design Review Panel (SDRP), and in some instances as project and agency specific panels. DRP’s can review projects of all types across a broad range of scales, including precinct and master plans, transport infrastructure, individual buildings and open spaces.
Although not a requirement, the Apartment Design Guide (ADG) strongly recommends the establishment of DRPs at a local level to review Housing SEPP buildings as part of their assessment. Part 5 of the ADG provides guidelines and templates for Design Review and encourages councils to use their DRP for other significant local projects such as planning proposals and local infrastructure.
The Local Government Design Review Panel Manual provides additional guidance for local Design Review Panels.
Better Placed supports the delivery of quality design review across NSW through the articulation of an overarching set of best practice design objectives and the processes that support them.