Design Review Panel
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Established over a decade ago, the panel assists and encourages developers and their design teams to achieve and deliver high quality design in their development proposals.
It is expected that all major and significant development will be brought to the panel during the planning process, ideally at pre-application stage.
The advice will be an important means of achieving planning policy on high quality design in new developments.
Apply to be on the Lewisham Design Review Panel
We are seeking experienced built-environment professionals to join our Design Review Panel and play an important role in the delivery of high-quality design across Lewisham.
The Lewisham Design Review Panel has reviewed more than 150 projects, including many large-scale developments and design planning policy documents. The Council highly values the panel’s expert advice, and Design Review plays a crucial role in the pre-application process for complex, large and complex schemes seeking planning permission.
By joining our panel of 25-30 professionals with expertise spanning across architecture, urban design, landscape architecture and conservation and heritage, you’ll have the opportunity to influence some of London’s most high-profile development projects.
Why apply?
Lewisham is an exciting inner-London borough with a rich and varied character and one of the most ethnically diverse and youngest populations in London. With a huge demand to deliver high quality housing, retail, community, transport and public realm projects to accommodate growth in the borough, we have several major projects in progress that are due to be delivered in the coming years.
We are proud to have many award-winning schemes in the Borough that have benefited from the advice of our Design Review Panel.
Recent examples include:
- Lewisham Gateway (winner of best borough led project at London Planning Awards
- Surrey Canal Triangle (nominated for two awards at World Architecture Festival)
- Lewisham Exchange (nominated at Offsite Awards and Building Awards)
- 1 Creekside (winner of best new place to live at London Planning Awards)
- Deptford Market Yard (winner of London Planning Award and Planning Awards)
Who should apply?
We are looking for a diverse range of leading practitioners including architects, urban designers, landscape architects and conservation and heritage specialists with expertise in one or more the following types of design and development:
- master planning
- large-scale residential development of 100 units +
- residential development of 40-99 units +
- mixed-use employment and residential schemes
- affordable housing schemes
- purpose-built student accommodation and large-scale purpose-built shared-living accommodation
- sustainable design including large-scale retrofit
- school, community and/or cultural buildings
- large-scale retail schemes
Candidates should have at least five years experience of working as a built-environment professional and preferably be at associate level or above.
The Council aims to have a panel that best reflects the diversity and inclusivity of the borough and welcome applications from everyone, in particular LGBTQA+ individuals, people from Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic backgrounds, candidates with disabilities, individuals from other protected characteristic groups and female professionals.
Panel fees
- Panel members are paid £500 per day of reviews / £250 per half day of reviews
- Panel chairs are paid £700 per day of reviews / £350 per half day of reviews and £100 per hour to produce the Lewisham Design Review Panel reports
How to apply
Submit the application form and requested documents via email to urbandesign@lewisham.gov.uk.
The deadline for applications is on 11:59pm on the 2 December.
Applicants with a disability
We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. If you tell us that you have a disability we can make reasonable adjustments at interview, where you work and to your work arrangements. If you have a disability and are unable to meet some of the job requirements specifically because of your disability, please tell us about this in your application. If you meet all the criteria, you will be shortlisted for interview and we will explore jointly with you if there are ways in which the job can be changed to enable you to meet the requirements. This could include adjustment to premises and equipment or job duties.
Additional information
Panel members are paid for attending design reviews and Panel chairs are paid an additional fee for producing the DRP reports.
There is likely to be one Design Review Panel session per month. For each design review usually 4-5 panel members are selected from the wider pool of panel members to review a scheme based on their relevant design experience to the projects being reviewed.
Panel members are expected to be available to attend Design Review days up to 6 times per year.
Further information is provided in the Lewisham Design Review Panel Terms of Reference which is available to download below.
Contact us
If you have any questions or would like to have an informal chat about applying to the Design Review Panel, please contact urbandesign@lewisham.gov.uk .
The current panel
The Panel is a group of professional design experts, which meets regularly to review development schemes at either pre-application stage of the planning process.
While the panel does not have decision-making powers, it serves as an advisory body helping to achieve the best built environment. Comments from the panel will be fed into the assessment of pre-application schemes, planning applications and appeals.
Schemes should be brought to the panel as early as possible within the design process in order to ensure a productive and beneficial outcome for all parties. By bringing a development to the panel early, design teams have an appropriate time to respond to panel advice and have a better chance to address design concerns prior to application – thus providing more assurances for the developer and helping to de-risk the planning application.
Panel members
The DRP is made up of more than 30 experts and chaired by Keith Williams, director of Keith Williams Architects. The Deputy Chair is Landscape Architect, Paul Dodd.
Selected from almost 130 applicants, the members were chosen based on their design experience, critical ability, and understanding of development pressures facing the area.
Members consist of professionals including Architects, Landscape Architects, Urban Designers, and Sustainability Specialists.
What the DRP reviews
The panel evaluates borough wide developments, excluding Convoys Wharf, Lewisham Gateway and Surrey Canal Triangle – each of which has its own specific design panel.
The panel reviews planning applications and pre-application designs for new developments and significant alterations to existing buildings. In addition, it provides advice on public realm proposals and other planning documents that impact on the borough's townscape.
How the reviews work
The panel holds monthly meetings, where two to three schemes are reviewed. Prior to a meeting, members visit the proposal sites accompanied by our officers.
At the meetings, development proposals are presented by the developer's design team. Presentation material includes architectural models, presentations and display boards.
After the presentation, panel members ask questions to clarify any issues and discuss the design of the scheme with the design team and developer.
Following the meeting, a report is written by the Chair in collaboration with the other members present. This report is then circulated to the developers and their design team as well as any other stakeholders within 10 working days of the meeting.
If the proposal was reviewed at pre-application stage, the report remains confidential. If the proposal was reviewed at application stage, the report becomes a public document and is kept within the proposal's planning file.
Types of review
Standard review
A typical standard review will last for 90 minutes. This is made up of a 10 minute introduction and briefing by Planning Officers, a 20 minute presentation and 60 minutes for discussion, ending with a summary by the Chair.
During the design review the panel manager will take notes of the discussion to form the basis of the Chair’s report. Following the review, a report will be written by the Chair and issued within 10 working days.
Panels consist of a minimum of four members (inclusive of the Chair) where they will be chosen as far as possible on their skillset and experience to suit the scheme. For instance, where schemes involve heritage buildings, the panel will be formed of members with significant heritage expertise.
Wherever possible, a site visit will be arranged for design reviews (unless it is a repeat review) and all panel members are required to attend.
The venue for this review will be chosen and organised by us.
Premium review
A premium review will last for 150 minutes. This is made up of a 10 minute introduction and briefing by Planning Officers, a 40 minute presentation and a 100 minute discussion, ending with a summary by the Chair.
During the design review the panel manager will take notes of the discussion to form the basis of the Chair’s report. Following the review, a report will be written by the Chair and issued within 10 working days.
As with a standard review, panels consist of a minimum of four members (inclusive of the Chair) where they will be chosen as far as possible on their skillset and experience to suit the scheme.
A site visit will be arranged for premium design reviews (unless it is a repeat review) and all panel members required to attend.
The venue can be office chosen by the applicant.
Fee structure for Design Review Panel
Fees below effective 1 April 2023
| Type | First review | Subsequent reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Standard review (up to and including 50 units) | £2,730 (plus VAT) | £2,194.50 (plus VAT) |
| Standard review (more than 50 units) | £4,389 (plus VAT) | £3,843 (plus VAT) |
| Premium review (2.5 hour review) | £7,665 (plus VAT) | £6,573 (plus VAT) |
Cancellation of meeting
If you cancel your meeting within 28 working days, you will be charged with a fee of £655.20 (includes VAT). If the cancellation happens within 10 working days, the fee will be £1316.70 (includes VAT). For reorganisation of meeting date once meeting has been arranged (per reorganisation at customer request) the fee is £252 (includes VAT).