The PLACE Alliance has published a report which summarises the findings of a freedom of information survey of urban design skills within local planning authorities, and how they have changed over the last five years.
The Place Alliance states that ‘it demonstrates that urban design skills and capacity within local planning authorities are woefully low and declining and that these gaps are not being filled by the patchy, albeit increasing, use of design review. Critical gaps exist within local planning authorities, including the ability to produce proactive design guidance in-house in order to positively shape the future of new housing developments’.