Design Quality
Design quality is at the heart of new buildings and public
spaces. The quality of buildings, streets, squares, markets and
parks are not only important individually, but are key in
contributing towards defining a place.
Design quality - through successful sustainable buildings and
effective public spaces - is the cornerstone of the development of
integrated, sustainable
communities, which contribute to a better quality of
life for those who live in and visit the region.
Building Design
The aim of the NWDA, as set out in the Regional Economic
Strategy, is to promote a good quality built environment which
contributes positively to the economy of the Northwest.
To this end, the Agency funds Places Matter! - an Architecture
& Built Environment Centre which provides building design
support. The organisation promotes improved design decision making
and commissioning skills, as well as increasing awareness of high
quality design amongst clients and developers.
Places Matter! works in partnership with the Commission for
Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). CABE works on behalf
of the public to ensure changes to the built environment improve
the area and inspire people to demand more from buildings.
Design Review
The work carried out by Places Matter! includes the Northwest
Design Review, which offers expert advice to public and private
sector clients.
A respected method of improving the quality of built environment
developments, the Design Review process begins at the early stages
of the development process, and offers constructive, impartial and
expert advice to developers, planning authorities and regional
agencies on development schemes. One example of a successful Design
Review is the Brockholes project.
Places Matter! has produced the Economic Value of Good Design -
an urban design best practice guide - on behalf of the NWDA.
Public Space
Design quality is also at the heart of successful public space.
The work covered by the Northwest Design review includes work in
the public realm - the space between and within buildings that is
accessible to the public.
Places Matter! has also produced Creating Inspirational Spaces -
a public realm best practice guide - on behalf of the NWDA and has
since run a series of events in the region. The events, which have
so far focused on Rochdale, Whitehaven and Salford, aim to promote
a holistic approach to the design of the public realm.
CABE also plays a role in the development and design of public
spaces. CABE Space - the organisation’s specialist public
realm unit - helps public, private and voluntary organisations
understand the benefits of well-planned and maintained public
space.
There is a dedicated Integrated Appraisal Toolkit website for
developers which asks questions on topics such as energy production
and bio-diversity, and allows them to demonstrate how
sustainability has been integrated into a development at the design
and planning stage of public realm and public space projects. (The
Integrated Appraisal Toolkit - along with Checklist Northwest and
the Carbon Calculator - is key to the NWDA’s approach to
sustainable planning.)