design team and the use of design to combat social exclusion. The committee has been involved with advising the Government on the creation of 1,000 new job centres to be built across the country as well as having input into the 200 or more ' start units' that the government is planning. It is also attempting to influence the selection of teams in the private finance initiative arena, although this is proving more difficult and the committee is therefore looking to assist in the completion of a demonstration project that can show what it is possible to achieve. The third committee is addressing the influence of CABE in the regions. Although the organisation is too small to have a regional structure, it is seeking to link up with other partners to give it a regional presence. So CABE is networking with rural development agencies, cultural consortia and the English Heritage regional offices in order to make CABE relevant. CABE is about "trying to get good design into the bloodstream of society", according to Les Sparks, chairman of the regional committee, and it is attempting to do this by helping both central and local government to become informed clients. There are apparently nominated 'champion ministers' in ADVERTISEMENT J &J Sharpe Lime Products We produce and supply materials for use on traditional buildings. 8 Hydraulic Lime Devon Stockists of St. Astier hydraulic lime. NHL 2, 3.5 & 5. Mature Lime Putty Matured for a minimum of 3 months. Ready Mixed Mortars Coarse stuff - Renders - Plasters Lime Wash In a wide range of colours. Oak Laths Riven and sawn. Woodside Merton, Okehampton Devon, Te11Fax 01805 603587 every government department responsible for carrying forward the agenda of good design, and it is hoped that the culture of government can be changed to recognise that high-quality design is cost effective. Alan Howarth made reference to the possible role awaiting CABE in the new Urban White Paper that is due for release shortly, but the precise details of this have to await publication. CABE itself has made it clear that it wants more clarity in the advice provided in PPGs citing PPG 15 in particular and the reference to new design in historic areas. This is very much in line with the comments made in Lord Rogers' Urban Task Force report regarding the need for revising controls in conservation areas, and may not be welcome news to many members of the IHBC. However, with the relationship between CABE and English Heritage only slowly developing, and attempting to improve on that between Jocelyn Stevens and Lord St John of Fawsley, it remains to be seen how much direct impact CABE will have on the quality of new design in historic areas, let alone new design in the public realm. Nigel Barker Government guidanceon urban design TheDETRhaspublishedits design guidance,basedonthe workof a team at UrbanInitiatives.Hereis what the new conservation websitewww.oldbuildings.co.uk hasto sayaboutit. The government has continued to stress its commitment to design quality in the built environment with this new guide. By design: urban design in the planning system, towards better practice is its full title and it is a welcome contribution. Published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), it is a weighty tome of almost 100 pages. Its content should be widely appreciated by conservationists, as it reflects many of the concerns and aims we have fostered for years. The general tone of the document is that everyone involved in the development process must be committed to design quality. Local planning authorities are encouraged to adopt strong design policies through the development plan process and then to back that up with supplementary planning guidance, development briefs etc. Developers are implored to seek out and employ good designers who will be charged with producing schemes which respond positively to their context. A quick scan of the 'planning toolkit' in section 3 suggests that the skills developed by conservationists in carrying out conservation area appraisals will be in great demand if this guide is widely adopted. What it amounts to is a clarion call for the environmental sensibilities of the conservation community to be applied across the planning spectrum. The first feeling I had was a rush of optimism, tinged with concern based on real-life experience of the development control process. Then I got to page 61 and found that the authors of this document clearly understand the problems which arise when good design policies are placed in the hands of development control officers. Take this quote relating to the commonplace situation where negotiations between agents and planners reach an impasse: "It is bad practice to continue beyond this point if the likely result is a poor compromise where, in view of the time they have spent together in negotiations, the planning officer feels obliged to support the applicant by recommending a mediocre scheme to the planning committee." There is much more than that. Planners are discouraged from getting too involved in the design process and it is suggested that they advise applicants to engage the services of a suitably experienced architect to improve their schemes. All in all it is a positive guide which builds considerably from the limited design advice offered in PPG 1. It represents a genuine effort to place good, contextual design at the forefront of planning considerations. Let's take it and run with it. You can view or download By design from the DETR website (www.planning. detr. gov.uk/bydesign/ index.htm). It is essential reading for anyone involved in development. CONTEXT 67 SEPTEMBER 2000
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