Sheffield established its Urban Design Review Panel in 2006. While the panel helped to drive up quality standards, the frequency of its involvement in the planning process had, over time, waned. Following a successful bid to the government’s Planning Delivery Fund, Sheffield City Council commissioned Frame Projects to explore different approaches and models for an independent review panel.

 

We produced a report detailing the policy expectation for independent review, the role of a panel and the types of schemes it could support, an analysis of setup and operational costs for different design review models, and other ways a panel could support the council. The report also suggested a preferred approach for Sheffield City Council, and described how the council could maximise the value a panel would bring to decision making. As a result, the Sheffield Design Panel was re-launched in 2022.