Planning and design experts join Havering Quality Review Panel

Published: Monday, 20 May 2019

Leading architects, urban designers and built environment experts have formed the Havering Quality Review Panel to ensure the highest possible quality of development is achieved in the borough.

Havering Quality Review Panel meeting
May's Quality Review Panel attendees. Left to right: - Simon Tucker, Director, Cottrell and Vermeulen Architecture - Lindsey Whitelaw, Consultant - Susanne Tutsch, Founding Director, Erect Architecture - Andrew O'Donnell, Associate Director, AHMM - Carla Symth, Senior Design Manager, LLDC

The 20 strong Havering Quality Review Panel is an independent group of experienced professionals from a broad range of backgrounds.

Aiming to review proposals at an early stage, they will scrutinise designs of major planning applications and give clear guidance to developers before schemes are considered by the Council’s Planning Committee.

As the Council works to ensure local developments strengthen and enhance the borough’s existing sense of place, community and character, the creation of the panel – which also includes experts in heritage and sustainability – demonstrates Havering Council’s commitment that high-quality design must be at the forefront of major development.

The panel is chaired by Kay Hughes, a Romford born architect with extensive experience acting as client for the delivery of high profile projects.

Previously Head of Design at the Olympic Delivery Authority, Kay was responsible for the delivery of Olympic facilities for London 2012.

Five members of the panel will meet monthly to consider applications referred by the Council, and will be managed externally, by Frame Projects, to ensure its independence.

Kay Hughes, said:

“Havering is a unique London borough, with leafy residential areas, great transport links, and many locations where there are opportunities to provide much needed new homes. The Quality Review Panel will help ensure that new development is inspired by this special character, so that it can be enjoyed by existing residents as well as those attracted to live here in the future”.   

Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said:

“It is very exciting to see how our ambitious regeneration plans will make Havering an even greater place in which to live, work and invest and we are working hard to ensure that any new development in the borough is of a high quality and happens in the right places.

“The high level of expertise on the Quality Review Panel will help us to deliver this and gain better control over new development at a local level.”