Introduction
The Council is committed to making sure that development in Somerset is delivered to the highest standard and that new proposals exhibit high quality design in its broadest sense. In order to create quality placemaking, the follow elements are essential
- architectural
- urban and landscape design
- planning
- transport
- sustainability
- deliverability
To help make sure that these aspirations are fulfilled, the Council has established an independent Quality Review Panel. This panel is used to provide critical friend advice and guidance to applicants and the local planning authority, to support the delivery of high quality development in Somerset.
The panel is managed by Frame Projects and is funded independently of the Council. Applicants are referred to the panel by the Council (a case officer) as an external service and fees are paid to Frame Projects. If we refer an application to the panel, the design of the proposal will be assessed and the panel will provide advice on design quality.
Panel Remit
The Somerset Quality Review Panel has been established to support the achievement of high quality, innovative and sustainable placemaking. The Panel provides independent and objective advice during the development of planning policy and development strategies and advising on pre-application development proposals and planning applications.
Council officers and applicants are encouraged to make use of the panel at an early stage in the design process to identify and test the proposed design’s key objectives and assumptions. The Council will generally expect schemes of more than 50 homes or 5,000 sq metres of commercial/other floorspace to be informed by review. Other smaller complex schemes may also be appropriate for review.
The panel’s advice to the applicants and to the Local Planning Authority will support sound planning decisions about design quality. The advice provided will be a material planning consideration in the determination of planning applications. It is intended to assist Council officers and applicants to achieve design improvements and support planning committee decisions, where design quality is a key consideration.
Panel Composition
The Somerset Quality Review Panel brings together leading professionals, working at the highest level in their field. It is made up of around 20 panel members, including the chair. The panel is chaired by Andrew Beharrell, an architect and Senior Advisor at Pollard Thomas Edwards. The Chair is supported by two Deputy Chairs, Anthony Hollingsworth, Director of Planning and Place at Homes England, and Keith French, Director at Grant Associates.
Panel members are chosen to provide a broad range of expertise with particular relevance to the development proposal, including:
- Urban design / town planning
- Landscape architecture
- Transport infrastructure
- Social infrastructure
- Sustainability
- Development delivery
- Heritage
Many of those appointed to the panel will have expertise and experience in more than one of these areas. The composition of the panel for each review is chosen to suit the project or issue being reviewed.
Membership of the panel is reviewed regularly, at least once a year, to make sure that it provides all the necessary expertise and experience to undertake the panel’s work effectively.
From time to time, it may also be of benefit for specialist advice to be provided beyond the Panel membership. In such cases, a professional with the relevant expertise may be invited to attend a review meeting, participating in the discussion with the status of an adviser to the panel.
In support of the Council’s commitment towards community engagement and long-term stewardship, there may also be potential, on occasion, to invite the chair of a community group to attend Panel review meetings as an observer.
Types of Review
The panel will be available for different types of review:
- Formal review
- Intermediate review
- Chair’s review
For more information about the Somerset Quality Review Panel, including the process, panel members, review types and costs, please refer to the Quality Review Panel page on the Frame Projects website.
Somerset Quality Review Panel 2026 dates
- 12 January
- 26 January
- 9 February
- 23 February
- 9 March
- 23 March
- 13 April
- 27 April
- 11 May
- 8 June
- 22 June
- 13 July
- 27 July
- 10 August
- 24 August
- 14 September
- 28 September
- 12 October
- 26 October
- 9 November
- 23 November
- 14 December
There will only be one panel meeting in May and one in December this year. This is because the usual schedule is affected by the May Bank Holiday and Christmas.