Sir Terry Farrell’s Review ranges far and wide

Architect Sir Terry Farrell, who chaired the newly-published Farrell Architectural Review, hopes that its 60 wide ranging recommendations will be taken up by the three main parties in their 2015 general election manifestoes.

The report, commissioned a year ago by culture minister Ed Vaizey, but largely funded by the architecture and design profession, argues that the planning system should take in a sweeping range of considerations and draw in multiple stakeholders.

“There needs to be a revolution in the planning system to make it proactive rather than reactive, anticipating rather than responding to the future needs of our towns and cities,” the report says.

The 60 recommendations, each accompanied by cartoon-style graphic, cover everything from improving “building literacy” among the school population to reviewing architects’ right to statutory protection of title.

One of the main proposals is the creation of  PLACE Review Panels, “using the acronym to ensure all the key disciplines are represented – planning, landscape, architecture, conservation and engineering”.

As well as viewing new planning proposals holistically, Farrell hopes to inaugurate PLACE reviews of existing places such as high streets, mega-hospitals and housing estates, and also of infrastructure projects like rail, road and aviation improvements.

Cartoon graphics accompany each of the 60 recommendations in the report

In addition, the public has a focal point to discuss the present and future of the local areas, manifested in an “urban room” for discussions and event. “Every town and city should have an urban room where people can go to understand and debate the past, present and future of that place,” the report says.

At Whitehall level, the government should appoint a “chief architect” to sit alongside the chief planner and chief construction adviser on the PLACE Leadership Council. “All government departments and government-funded bodies should sign up to an agreed set of principles and produce a joined-up design policy statement which is consistent on issues like procurement, accessibility and sustainability.”

But the media is also expected to do its bit. “Public figures and broadcasters should do more to popularise and communicate good design, so that it becomes an assumed part of our everyday lives,” the report says.

The report also took aim at architectural education, saying “professional training needs to be radically reformed to make it much more accessible to all” and adding that “alternative routes into a career in architecture should be made available, such as apprenticeships, to make it accessible to all”.

Farrell issued a warning to his profession, saying it risks “becoming an elitist profession and, at the same time, losing our world-ranking status if we do not radically overhaul architectural training and open it up to a wider range of people”.

Other measures proposed in the report, which was drawn up following a series of  workshops and public consultations, include: 

• an endorsement of the ongoing Cut the VAT campaign, arguing in favour of cutting VAT on renovations from the current 20% to 5% on private dwellings, excluding materials. This cut could “stimulate sustainable reuse in preference to needless demolition”.
• a call for the government to research and promote innovation of new technologies to enhance and make more efficient refurbishment projects. 
• private sector built environment practices should enter into “partnerships with local authorities” and set up education and outreach opportunities for the wider community, from children upwards, to teach them more about built environment issues and relationships.
• a call for the government to reconsider the statutory protection of the title “architect”. “In the UK, anyone can provide architectural services as long as they do not call themselves an architect. The protection of title, while there is no protection of the function of architectural design, is misguided,” the report says.

Farrell concludes that publication of the report is only the beginning of the work by the experts on the Farrell Architectural Review. The panel will remain vigilant that government at all levels and politicians of every persuasion act on the report’s recommendations. “We… will be examining all the party manifestos to see whether these issues and recommendations are being taken up,” the report says.

The Farrell Review is the result of a year-long consultation with stakeholders by Farrell and a the panel of 11 top industry figures through workshops, an online call for evidence, and conversations with ministers from different political parties, MPs, institutions, agencies and individuals. 

Panel members included: Peter Bishop, professor of urban design, The Bartlett, University College London; Jim Eyre, founding partner, Wilkinson Eyre Architects; Sunand Prasad, senior partner, Penoyre & Prasad; and Victoria Thornton, founding director, Open-City.