Cambridgeshire Quality Panel

The Cambridgeshire Quality Panel is being set up by Cambridgeshire Horizons, in conjunction with our partners, to provide a consistent approach to design review for the major growth sites in Cambridgeshire. The local authorities have high aspirations for the quality of the new developments that are being brought forward, as outlined in the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth, and design review can play an important role in supporting and challenging the local planning authorities in their quest for high standards.

The principal purpose of the Cambridgeshire Quality Panel is to provide ongoing scrutiny of the emerging master plans and design codes of the major growth sites in Cambridgeshire, and to assist officers and members in upholding and reinforcing the high quality aspirations set out in the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth.

The Panel would also support and challenge the in-house design and planning processes of the authorities, in order to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved. It may also support local authorities in their own procurement and development processes, for instance on the design of schools or community facilities. 

Panel Principles - The '4 Cs'

Design review does not just cover aesthetics, it also plays an important role in assessing the wider sustainability and functionality of a project. Therefore, the Quality Panel will be organised around the four broad themes of the Cambridgeshire Quality Charter for Growth:
Community - Building a sense of community by providing a greater choice of housing along with active participation of people in the way their neighbourhoods are run.
Connectivity  - Locating new developments where they can benefit from high connectivity to jobs and services, and upgrading infrastructure to match the pace of development.
Climate - Tackling climate change through imaginative landscaping that treats 'water as a friend not an enemy' and through an innovative approach to energy, transport and waste.
Character - Creating places of character with distinctive neighbourhoods and a public realm that encourages people to walk and cycle.

How can I get involved?

The closing date has now passed for applications for the Quality Panel. However if you would like to find out more about the Quality Panel please contact Esther Rowland on esther.rowland@cambridgeshirehorizons.co.uk.