CABE’s future secure as Design Council merger is announced
THE Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), which was axed as part of the coalition government’s crackdown on quangos, is to merge with the Design Council, it has been revealed.
The new organisation will advise the Government and encompass a range of services already provided by both the Design Council and CABE, including:
- Providing expert advice to local authorities, NHS trusts, developers and communities through reviews of major proposed projects both at a national and local level
- Promoting the value of good building and spatial design to businesses and communities and, in particular, facilitating well-designed new homes and neighbourhoods
- Providing mentoring advice to businesses, public services and university technology offices on the strategic use of design from a national team of expert design strategists
- Leading high-profile design challenges that bring together the best in design, manufacturing and services to develop and introduce innovative solutions to national issues in health, security and sustainability
Around 20 people – a sixth of CABE’s staff – will transfer to the Design Council as part of the link-up to manage the national design review service, local design review, planning and enabling processes.
Commenting on the announcement, Lord Michael Bichard, chairman of the Design Council, said: “Now, more than ever, we need design at the heart of social and economic renewal, and a strong message about design in all its forms. I am looking forward to working with our colleagues at CABE and with a wide range of industry partners to make this a success.”
It is hoped the merger will also mean a saving of public money by combining some of the activities of the two public bodies into one independent charitable organisation with scope for additional industry investment. The new organisation will continue to be financed through a combination of sources, as has been the case for the last few years, including grants from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Chairman of CABE, Paul Finch, said: “This very positive move will place architecture at the heart of the economy as a driver for competitive businesses and places. I am very much looking forward to the combined expertise of our two organisations coming together to achieve that.”
A new governance structure for the Design Council will be put in place to equip the new organisation to deliver its new broader remit from 1 April. This will include a significantly-expanded council drawn from a range of disciplines and specialisms in design, government, business and education.
Welcoming the move, Grant Shapps, the Minister of State for Housing and Local Government, said: “I want local residents themselves to have a much greater say over how their communities are designed. By merging these elements of the Design Council and the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, we can continue to improve the local support that is available for people to do this, and build on the strong track record in offering mentoring, training and support.
“This merger, which has the support of leading experts in the field, will not only mean the excellent work the commission has already undertaken can continue, but will also ensure that every taxpayer’s pound spent on improving design is spent wisely and efficiently.”