Knowledge

Design

Design blends architecture, landscape architecture, and planning together to make groups of buildings, neighbourhoods, and whole settlements functional, attractive to live in and sustainable.

Latest news

The RTPI alongside Cabe at the Design Council, the Landscape Institute and the RIBA have launched the fully revised Design Review: Principles & Practice.
Outgoing RTPI President Colin Haylock has accepted an invitation to join the Mayor of London's Design Advisory Group.
Eight not-for-profit organisations, each with a proven track record of delivering successful Design Review Panels, have come together to form the Design Network.
The Deputy Prime Minister has joined those looking to Garden Cities as exemplars.
Future Homes Commission: This RIBA report includes, as a key recommendation, a greater focus on design in all new homes.
Design Forum: this A+D Scotland paper looks at an approach that they see as an improved model to Design Panels.

Policy changes and consultations

The Bishop Review - published by Design Council CABE this looks at the future of design in the built environment. The British Property Federation (BPF) welcomed the Review.

Good Practice Guide for Local Heritage Listing - English Heritage has updated this guide.

Place-making: The UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlement Programme) has adopted the first-ever public space resolution which urges the development of a policy approach for the international application of Place-making.

Practice

Design Forum: this A+D Scotland paper looks at an approach that they see as an improved model to Design Panels.
Design Forum: this A+D Scotland paper looks at an approach that they see as an improved model to Design Panels.Urban Design Practice: An International Review: Twenty chapters analyse a different country’s urban design context.
Re-imagining urban spaces to help revitalise our high streets: “Full of inspirational case studies, and signposts some of the key documents, guidance, tools and sources of support that could help local partners re-imagine the urban spaces in their area to help revitalise their local high streets and town centres".
Green Infrastructure: Design and Placemaking: This Scottish Government document is aimed at planners and others involved in shaping built and green environments.
The University of Manchester is currently undertaking a research project entitled 'Climate Science in Urban Design' that was the subject of a Conference report in Planning (9 Sept)
Place Spotlight: The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has launched Place Spotlight, a web-based resource to support the local investment planning process and help local authorities to identify ways to improve their delivery of great places.
Government Action for our Urban Environment: This paper from PLACE argues there is a need to understand what makes Northern Ireland places special, how to capture their essence to nurture them to thrive for future generations to enjoy.
The Urban Design Compendium - Summarises the principles of urban design, how they can be applied and the processes which lead to successful places.
Participation in Placemaking - This Scottish Government paper argues that conventional ways of making places have, generally, not created places of the quality that the public demands. Change is needed.
Design review: principles and practice - Promotes consistently high standards for all panels. Developed by CABE, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Landscape Institute (currently being updated).
Signposting to more design practice advice.

Networks

The RTPI Urban Design Network provides a cross-profession route to keeping well informed on and influencing developing policy and practice. Visit its webpages to join the Network.

RTPI projects and research

The RTPI's Seven Commitments on Climate Change seeks to ensure sustainability across all aspects of the built and natural environments.

Our viewpoint

We believe that good design is at the heart of a sustainable community. The impacts of climate change are such that we must be more attentive to design issues and the need to accommodate adaptation. Planning and design are societys essential tools for making successful and enjoyable places that will provide a high quality of life, economic growth and environmental protection. The design element of planningprovides a vehicle for communities to identify, protect and enhance the assets that matter to them and retain the distinctiveness of their area.