About the DesignPLACE review service
The DesignPLACE review panel consists of members from across the built environment, with complementary design expertise. They have significant professional and academic experience across the following fields and disciplines:
- architecture
- design coding
- ecology and biodiversity
- heritage and conservation
- hydrology, flood risk, and coastal management
- landscape architecture
- public health and spatial planning
- retrofitting and repurposing buildings
- social housing
- social infrastructure and inclusive design
- street and public realm design
- sustainability and low carbon design
- transport planning, infrastructure, and active travel
- urban design and masterplanning
- viability and development economics
The panel members will provide impartial, independent advice. They will give feedback on how to improve your development proposals.
This is in addition to council officer advice and statutory consultees comments. We provide those at each stage of planning.
Design South East (d:se) provides the DesignPLACE review panel service for Brighton & Hove. They tailor this service to meet the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework. It also complies with the Farrell Review of Architecture and the Built Environment recommendations.
What type of development the panel reviews
The DesignPLACE service is available for all pre-application submissions across the city. You can book a panel whether you are a single householder or planning a major development.
The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 defines a major application or scheme as:
- 10 or more units of residential accommodation
- a new commercial development of 1,000 square metres or more
- a change of use of 1,000 square metres or more
- a site area exceeding 0.5 hectares where it is not known how many dwellings are to be created
- a development site area of 1 hectare or more
How the service works
It is not mandatory for design proposals to have a DesignPLACE review. However, we recommend that prospective developers use this service, particularly for major schemes.
If you’re seeking pre-application advice for a proposed development, your case officer will encourage you to submit your initial plans to the service.
You need to have a live pre-application submission in place at least 3 weeks before the panel date. This is so that an allocated case officer can review your scheme before the panel date.
You can use the DesignPLACE service more than once throughout the planning process to develop a scheme.
How to book a panel
You have to pay to take your design to the DesignPLACE service. Costs will depend on the type of development.
For more information on how to book a panel visit the Brighton & Hove DesignPLACE Panel - Design South East website.
Further information
For more information visit our pre-application planning advice service.