Design Council Cabe announces partnership with Thurrock Council

As Thurrock Council prepares to become the economic "powerhouse of south Essex" by 2035, Design Council Cabe has created a Design Review and support panel to help the area transition into the Thurrock of the future.

Thurrock has ambitions to deliver significant numbers of high-quality housing, major infrastructure and regeneration schemes. This ambition, coupled with the creation of new mixed-use developments, substantial environmental improvements and enhancements to the public transport network, will transform Thurrock into the economic hub of south Essex by 2035.  To realise this ambition, Thurrock Council has partnered with Design Council Cabe to implement and run Design Review, a dedicated interdisciplinary panel of Built Environment Experts (BEEs), to provide Thurrock Council with independent expert advice and support as it prepares for major growth and investment.  

David Bull, Director of Planning at Thurrock Council elaborated on the growth: "We expect that over the next two decades, Thurrock will grow into a more prosperous, attractive and sustainable place to live and work. This will be driven by port-related industries, the logistics sector new technologies and innovation recognised for and characterised by a highly skilled, inclusive working population." 

The next twenty years will see improved design and quality development in Thurrock, and we believe the design of our built environment will be vital to ensuring the area's future success.

Andy Millard, Head of Planning and Growth, Thurrock Council

Design Council Cabe has unrivalled experience in the field of design review and has provided similar services for many other authorities and cities, including the Royal  Borough of Greenwich, the City of Oxford and most recently the transformational developments at Old Oak and Park Royal in West London.

Thurrock Council's Head of Planning and Growth, Andy Millard said of the partnership: "We are very pleased to be working with Design Council Cabe in what promises to be a major period of growth for us. The next twenty years will see improved design and quality development in Thurrock, and we believe the design of our built environment will be vital to ensuring the area’s future success."

Cabe Design Review is an independent and impartial process for evaluating the quality of significant developments, urban extensions and major infrastructure projects across England. It is a tried and tested method of ensuring the highest possible quality of development, and is specifically referenced in the government's National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The process offers designers and clients invaluable feedback from fellow multidisciplinary professionals. It provides local authorities and developers with the best possible independent advice – reducing risk and expense by identifying weaknesses early on, or giving confidence that the design is on the right track. It is managed to the high standard established in The 10 principles of Design Review.

Clare Devine, Executive Director of Architecture, Built Environment and Design has said of the Cabe - Thurrock partnership: "We are delighted to be working with such an ambitious borough to support them in their next phase of growth. The independent design review process will instil design quality in development and provide long-term, expert advice to effect transformational change to deliver a sustainable future for the area and the community. We are looking forward to working with and supporting Thurrock."

Design Council Cabe recently recruited a further 150 Built Environment Experts (BEEs) to its network, growing its ranks to 400 design experts - the largest and most skilled group of its kind in the country. A dedicated interdisciplinary panel of BEEs will provide Thurrock Borough Council with independent expert advice and support.