Support
The overarching theme of the work done by DDQ is to provide support to all those working within the HMR. This means that we provide support both to developers and house builders, and to local authorities.
We provide practical support to the private sector, enabling them to improve their design quality standards. Our objective is for all new developments to achieve the Building for Life standards and for at least 50% of new schemes to achieve silver or gold standard. We also aim for the industry in South Yorkshire to be recognised as market leaders in residential design quality.
DDQ assists the local authorities developing more robust and sustainable design agendas. Key to the work of the project is raising awareness amongst local authorities of the constraints that face the development industry. We also help with achieving a more efficient, effective and predictable planning process.
Examples of key projects which DDQ have worked on include:
Great Places
Great Places is a medium sized RSL. DDQ assisted Great Places with brief development for a site in Rotherham Town Centre. The site was used as part of a workshop on better briefing. Building for Life training was given to Great Places development staff from Sheffield and Manchester in March 2009.
Redwall Developments Ltd.
Building for Life was used as a tool to test design quality on a proposal for houses and apartments by Redwall Developments on a site in Sheffield.
As a result of the discussions facilitated by DDQ, revisions were made to the design proposals prior to resubmission for detailed planning consent.
Wakefield County Council
Frickley Colliery Building for Life Evaluation and Masterclass.
The project will take place in 4 difference stages:
- Stage 1: Project familiarisation & key messages for consultation
Working in partnership with the client team from Wakefield MDC, the enablers will attend one project group meeting to familiarise themselves with the project and understand the key messages for consultation, and conduct a site visit. - Stage 2: Approach to Building for Life masterclass
Fundamental to the engaging community stakeholders in the value of good design is the building of a shared appreciation of qualities of successful neighbourhoods. In addition to this it is important to build confidence, and a group of local design champions. When a thorough understanding has been gained a draft BfL masterclass will be produced. - Stage 3: Delivery of Building for Life masterclass
A one-day BfL masterclass event will be held. This will include; presentations, site visits, interactive sessions, studying example projects and introducing the criteria for good design based embodied in BfL. - Stage 4: Building for Life assessment of proposals
Based on CABE’s recommendations all assessments will be moderated by second assessor, in order to ensure consistency of approach. A summary of each scheme will then be produced highlighting the key issues and elaborating on each score.
Sheffield City Council
Design Awareness Training Programme
TSY and the four local authorities are keen to develop public sector staffs' skills in order to deliver the best quality housing possible in South Yorkshire. Several training exercises have been delivered in recent years by TSY in partnership with the local authorities and other agencies - including 'DESIGN 100 South Yorkshire'.
This exercise goes a stage further and will help to develop a more bespoke internal training programme to develop the skill-sets of certain units and individuals within Sheffield City Council (SCC) specifically. SCC envisages a "very low cost approach":
- using 'peer-to-peer'
- 'on-the-job' learning opportunities
- staff development review
- improved practices
- optimising the value of other related initiatives
This commission will identify exactly what is required and how best to deliver the progress required.
SCC perceive a need to develop in-house skills on certain design-related matters, as the design standards set by Government agencies - for new housing and other development - continue to rise, very quickly. The work will proceed within and be focused on Sheffield City Council, from 2009-2010.
