Advice for DRP - Design Review Meeting (Have you been through this process?)

[Smallholder]

Hi folks,

 

We have spent the last 2 years or so working on a sustainable build design for a home in Somerset, and we are going to apply for planning permission under paragraph 80 (previously paragraph 79, then paragraph 55 before that)

We are now very close to booking the meeting with a Design Review Panel (we will be using Design West www.designreviewwest.org )

 

I have only talked to one other person who has been through this process, and I would love to hear from others. Specifically right now we are trying to decide whether to bring the DRP panel to our site, or whether it's in our best interests to present to them in their offices. I'm not expecting anyone else to make this decision for me, just to offer info on how they made the decision, and how they felt about that having been through the process.

 

Many thanks in advance.

 

 

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I already added another post with some info about what we are attempting to do, but here is a brief copy & paste summary:

 

The fundamental plan is to try and build:

• A 4 bed detached home
• Concrete-free foundations
• Using load-bearing straw bale construction technique
• To achieve an overall carbon negative construction
• Off-grid
  • A large PV array
  • Several large lithium batteries for storage
  • Bore hole for water
  • WETs system to process grey/black water
• Achieving passive house certification 

[ToughButterCup]

29 minutes ago, Smallholder said:

...

Specifically right now we are trying to decide whether to bring the DRP panel to our site, or whether it's in our best interests to present to them in their offices. 

...

 

I have no idea about the DRP panel. But I do know about how to present information to the best effect. I taught people how to do that for years.

 

First: make the presentation where you can make your case most powerfully. It may be that you need two locations to do that - the site and (say) an office. And the office could - have to be (?) - the minibus that you hire to take everyone to the site ... bit of a nightmare that.

 

Second, present the information in several formats. You might want to make a video, or an information pack, or a poster - I'm groping here because I'm not sure what your presentation involves. 

 

Thought about putting together a website to support your application?  Choose the colours of your site carefully - reflect your message . Online, use the Information Pyramid: sniff> nibble > lick > bite > chew > swallow  

 

Don't forget there are always those who '.... want it on paper ...'  If you decide to make a written presentation to keep it short, focused, accurate and evidenced. If in doubt cut, cut, cut written content to make it as short as you can. 

 

One sheet of A4 - tops. Consider laminating it - presenting information  on paper  outside on a rainy day is ..... 

 

Bets of luck - looking forward to your next few posts.

Ian

Edited May 7, 2022 by ToughButterCup

[Smallholder]

Thanks very much for the input. The idea of having several different formats sounds like a winner, I'll adopt that for sure.

 

In terms of the written part, we need to submit a document covering all aspects of the project (at the point of contacting the DRP to book an appointment), so I'd assume each panel member will have a copy of this in front of them when we are presenting.
It's hard to trim it down too much as it needs to be so detailed, but we can do our best.

 

Right now I'm erring on the side of presenting on site. It's hard to get an accurate idea of the land from viewing photos in an office somewhere. We have a barn on site that we can use to get inside and use a projector etc.

 

I'll post on here with some info about how the presentation goes, and what their response is.

[ToughButterCup]

Learning styles vary.  So presentation should vary to take account of that: written, aural, diagram(s), visual, oral.

(Kinaesthetic isn't relevant here)

 

In terms of the document presented, make sure that the information  structure is logical.

But whose logic? Are you given a format to follow?  Then follow it. If not how does the panel ensure uniformity of opportunity to get the message across?

No format offered? Ask for one.

Try to access previous presentations. And try to get clues as to what went well or not so well, and why. Any online?

 

At all costs, keep emotion out of the presentation. Hard facts.

 

 If on site, then you have a first class opportunity to present via poster. Presenting on site needs practice. Know what barriers there are / will / might be on the day. Heavy rain? Bright sunlight? Background noise? Electricity supply for lighting?  WiFi signal? Make the password easily available. Offer a QR code so people can scan it and login quickly. Also offer the password in clear text ( in the footer of any paper-based handout).

Practice the presentation in front of a sympathetic audience first. Ask for feedback. Watch the time. No waffle.

 

Research  (online) poster presentations .  There are some brilliant online examples of that presentation format.

Big: bright: simple. Well designed

 

Good luck.

Date?

[Smallholder]

Thanks again, I'll do my best with all this!

We've not yet set a date. The way the system works is that you get to the point you have everything in place that will be needed (including al the information you're supplying) then you book a slot with them.

I'm hoping that we have everything in place by the 20th May (less than 2 weeks from now) and then book in. If we're requesting to present to them on site, then we request a specific date. In which case we'll aim for the first week in June.

 

We're extremely fortunate to have a lovely site, and looks at it's best at this time of year. We have a good size off-grid solar array for power, and have 4G wi-fi.

 

I will certainly present to an audience as a trial run.

We hosted a presentation (about the proposed build) to a local sustainability group, so I've at least had some experience with presenting the material I'll be dealing with.

 

As I said, I'll post on here with details of how we get on.

[saveasteading]

Can you explain why you are submitting to them? Is it a planning requirement or does it perhaps help your application, or is it simply to get the opinion of some architects?

 

The DRP I met, were a commercial setup of an architects'' panel, giving their opinions on what was good design. It was a bit of a closed shop (in my opinion).

[Smallholder]

We have decided to go down the paragraph 80 route, primarily as we are applying for planning permission for a house in open countryside. This is never an easy application to get approved, but we (rightly or wrongly) concluded that para 80 was our best bet.

 

When we went to the local planning department and asked for pre-planning advice, they essentially said that they don't have the skills in house to be able to determine an application of this type and would basically sub-contract the decision (on whether the design meets the requirements set out in para 80) to a design review panel.

 

From the reading I have done, it seems common for para 80 applications to include a design review panel. It also seems that the applications supported by approval from a design review panel are massively more likely to get planning approved.

 

There is a member on here that went through a very similar process to the one we are going through now, and following a positive response from the DRP, was give planning approval.

 

Does all this help, or am I missing the point a bit?

[saveasteading]

No I understand.

My worry would be in getting the opinions of several Architects who are not in your employ. Will they love it or have their own opinions which you /your Architect may not like, for you to live in and pay for.

But perhaps, as the LA are suggesting this process, it is all quite normal and sensible.

 

As there is probably a large number of architects on the panel, you could get any combination of them.

The busy ones will be too busy.

 

I agree, as above suggested, that you must sell the scheme hard and have responses ready.

[Alfie]

Glad it's all progressing well and best of luck with the DRP.

I've spoken to 4/5 folks in similar positions since we last spoke and the ones with issues have mainly been those who have done everything remotely. 

[Smallholder]

Alfie that's really helpful, thanks.
Exciting to be at this stage.

 

I'm keen to hear how you are getting on. Will give you a shout

[Paul K]

I'm hoping this message reaches you in time, and would be interested to hear how your DRP meeting goes. We'll be undergoing the same ordeal in mid-June, although we will be armed with a planning consultant, architect, landscape architect, ecologist, etc, etc. I'm mightily impressed if you're tackling this yourself!

 

We are meeting on site and then travelling to a meeting room arranged by the DRP (as part of their fee). They are allowing 3.5 hours for the whole process.

 

If it helps, this is an extract from one of their emails:

 

Presentation Guidelines

In terms of the format of the presentation for Design Review. The list below provides a guideline on the information that could be provided which will depend on the stage of the scheme, the site analysis however is essential:        

·         Location plans – 1:1250

·         Existing site plan – setting out existing buildings, land ownership, listed buildings, conservation areas, pedestrian and vehicle movement etc. and urban design analysis if undertaken

·         Proposed site plan – setting out landscaping, car parking, pedestrian and vehicle movement etc.

·         Aerial photographs, if available

·         Proposed plans, sections and elevations

·         3D images of proposed scheme – photomontages and views

·         Proposed site sections and elevations to show relation to context

·         Views in and out of the site, showing the project in context

·         Indicative details to illustrate the proposed architecture.

 

A few other points I've picked up in the process might be of interest:

• If you give the manager of the DRP a heads up on what the project is beforehand, they can select panel members with relevant expertise.
• And some DRPs specialise in certain types of architecture - no doubt you've selected one that will know about sustainable buildings.
• It is important to get an understanding of what your DRP will expect to see - our architects have done a number of these presentations and all panels seem to vary in their expectations - some will want just a basic concept so they can suggest design ideas, while others will want to see more detailed plans that they can tweak. Our architect has already had an email checking that 'you haven't done too much have you?'
• Is your planning officer attending? Apparently having him hear directly from the panel can streamline things later on as he can understand how you've taken the DRP's suggestions on board.
• Our planning officer suggested a DRP that he had dealt with before, but para 80 applications don't come across their desks very often so they have to get help. However, they are usually interested and keen to be involved - handling such a scheme looks good on their CV after all. 
• Have you budgeted for a second DRP? If they feel your design doesn't meet the para 80 requirements, you will probably need to go back with a revised presentation to get their support.

One final point for your presentation, you need to show that your para 80 project specifically relates to your site - the phrase quoted to me is that the house must 'fit here and nowhere else'.

 

And one final worry - whilst DRP support does usually result in planning consent, apparently less than half of all para 80 houses ever get built, mostly because of the final cost, but often because the DRP's input results in a design that the applicant doesn't really want!

 

But hey, we do it for the challenge. Good Luck.