Bristol Urban Design Forum
Bristol City Council has a strong commitment to design excellence for the city’s buildings and public spaces. The Bristol Urban Design Forum was set up in 2007 with the help of the Architecture Centre, to review major schemes proposed for the city and give independent, expert advice to the council on design quality.
The Forum was to be set up as an independent body to give expert and professional guidance on design issues based on the design review panels promoted by The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).
The Forum looks at schemes that are likely to have a significant impact on the city. It invites submissions on masterplans, commercial and residential developments, landscape improvements, regeneration plans, engineering projects, heritage conservation, and cultural provision. Schemes are reviewed schemes at both early and detailed stages and early consultation is encouraged to ensure that the expertise and advice available can be most effective.
By initiating the Forum, the City Council aims both to ensure high quality individual schemes and to promote good design in the city. It wishes to see new sustainable developments that make a positive contribution to the community and encourages inspiring and innovative design solutions.
The Forum has a pool of around 25 members who have been selected on the basis of their individual suitability, professional qualifications and experience. Forum members do not represent particular groups or stakeholder bodies but serve on the panel as individuals. They are drawn from a range of backgrounds to ensure that a relevant pool of expertise is available to deal with all types of application. Professions recruited include architects, urban designers, planners, landscape designers, developers, engineers and others with expertise in transport, sustainability, public art.
For further information contact The Architecture Centre.
The Bristol Urban Design Forum is developing a new web site in 2010.
Design leadership
The Architecture Centre’s training programme for local authorities in Key Growth Areas
