News / Design West
Bristol charity chief to lead national design charter
Anna Rutherford, chief executive of Bristol-based placemaking charity Design West, will be leading a new national initiative aimed at improving the design quality of homes, streets and public spaces across England.
The National Design Review Charter, launched by The Design Network – a collaboration of six regional design organisations – sets out a consistent framework for providing independent design advice to developers, local authorities and site promoters.
The charter defines a shared set of principles to underpin design review processes, focusing on raising standards and aligning national development ambitions with local quality expectations.
Rutherford, based at Design West’s headquarters on Narrow Quay in central Bristol, emphasised the importance of building trust and collaboration across sectors.
YTL Developments engaged with the design review process to revise and enhance the masterplan for Brabazon development – photo: YTL
She said: “This charter is about delivering well-designed places through partnership and expertise. Good design supports faster, more sustainable development, and this charter strengthens the role of design review in shaping connected, resilient and healthy communities.”
Design reviews offer independent, multidisciplinary scrutiny at key planning stages and are already used by over 150 planning authorities.
The charter aims to “standardise best practice and expand access to high-quality advice nationwide”, drawing on a network of more than 530 professionals across architecture, housing, planning, health, transport and environmental disciplines.
The charter is grounded in a series of core principles. Independence is central, with reviews carried out by professionals who have no direct interest in the schemes they assess.
Reviews are conducted by recognised experts in their fields, including panellists from leading organisations such as Arup, Ramboll, FCB Studios, Savills, HLM and LDA Design, as well as locally based practitioners.
The process is collaborative, working closely with planning authorities and developers to promote design excellence and to support informed, effective planning decisions.
Reviews are multidisciplinary, drawing on knowledge across urban design, sustainability, engineering, ecology, inclusive design and heritage.
Timeliness is also a key principle for the group, ensuring that reviews contribute meaningfully within the planning timeline. To support clarity and transparency, review outcomes are recorded in reports with clear, actionable recommendations.
The charter also commits to consistency and accountability, with all work shaped by the same national framework, and to continuous improvement. Review processes and panellist performance are assessed annually to reflect evolving best practice and ensure ongoing quality.
Anna Rutherford, chief executive of Bristol-based placemaking charity Design West, will be leading a new national initiative aimed at improving the design quality of homes, streets and public spaces across England – photo: Design West
The initiative builds on the existing work of the Design Network, whose members deliver over 500 reviews each year. By consolidating this experience into a national standard, the charter aims to act as a benchmark for quality and a practical tool for delivering better outcomes in the built environment.
A recent example is the Brabazon development in Bristol. Located on the site of the former Filton Airfield, Brabazon is the largest brownfield redevelopment in the South West. YTL Developments engaged with the design review process to revise and enhance the masterplan.
The approved scheme now includes up to 6,500 homes, employment space supporting 30,000 jobs, education and research facilities, and the largest new urban public park in the region for over fifty years.
Design West is an independent, Bristol-based charity focused on promoting better design and placemaking across the built environment. Formerly known as The Architecture Centre, it operates as a hub for design expertise in the South West of England.
Main photo: Anna Rutherford
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