‘The quality of Scotland’s built environment is important, not only to our own quality of life, but to the perception of the country abroad as an outstanding place to be.’ First Minister Jack McConnell The most successful countries place high value on their buildings and on the spaces between their buildings. They recognise that good buildings and public spaces enhance the quality of life for both citizens and visitors. If we in Scotland are to ‘raise our game’ as a country we too need to ensure that we have a built environment to match the natural environment that attracts visitors and provide a high quality of life. In 2001, The Scottish Executive published A Policy on Architecture for Scotland setting out the Executive’s commitment to the promotion of good architecture and good building design and its actions to encourage improvements in the quality of our buildings. Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS) is the latest development within that policy and has been established by Scottish Ministers to be the champion for good architecture, design and planning in the built environment. On April 1, 2005 A+DS took over the Design Review role from the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland. In addition we have new roles and Ministers are expecting us to operate in new ways. This introduction to A+DS sets out our starting position. We know that Scotland possesses many good developments that provide an international quality of place. We have good designers that can compete with the best of the rest. We have public and private clients that aspire to the highest quality. We have planning committees and staff that regularly encourage better development. So we have a good basis upon which to develop. We at A+DS know that we will only be able to help promote better buildings and spaces by working in partnership with a wide range of players. We look forward to working with you. A+DS is the new Scottish public body charged with: Inspiring excellence in the built environment. Encouraging high quality public buildings and public places. Stimulating and supporting a demand for better design by clients and the public for improved quality. We are committed to: Working in partnership to develop effective design policies with local authorities, government agencies, professional bodies, NGOs, clients, and, local communities. Improving design skills in the built environment by working with universities and professional bodies. Communicating and disseminating key messages in a clear and accessible form to a wide audience, including the media. Building up evidence on the value of investment in good design. Considering new thinking on key drivers of change e.g. climate change, the sustainable development agenda, technological advances and demographic changes. Photo: Brian Sweeny Our main activities will be: Design Review Enabling and Advocacy Research and Communications Design Reviews Our approach to Design Reviews is to: Offer an expert review of the quality of design for selected projects. Involve a range of views – see inside back cover for the members of the Design Review Panel. Take place as early as possible. Ideally before an application is made to a planning authority. The projects to be considered can be of all types and sizes: Projects of strategic significance, making a significant impact on the local environment, or particularly sensitive sites or setting new standards for the future will be considered through meetings with a Design Review Panel. Other projects will be dealt with by the professional staff of A+DS, in consultation with members of the Panel. Detailed advice is given in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 20. Ministers attach great importance to the Design Review process and will have regard to the views of A+DS. The development industry must demonstrate what account has been taken of the views of A+DS. In exceptional cases A+DS may refer planning applications to Ministers who may wish to call them in for determination. We will give priority during the summer of 2005 to reviewing the way in which the Design Reviews are undertaken, and will consult planning authorities on our proposals. Enabling+Advocacy We intend to develop an Enabling and Advocacy programme which would: Embed the qualities of good design in the procurement process. Give early hands-on advice for a range of organisations. Help client groups with the development of briefs. Explore key design issues with stakeholders. Promote design training and organise workshops to improve possible skills gaps. Support events such as conferences and seminars targeted at key decision makers, local authorities, developers and clients, as well as community groups. Assist local authorities who wish to run design training schemes for planning officials or members of its Planning Committee. This programme will be developed during the coming year. We will consult widely. Research+Communication Our Research and Communication activity will include: Baseline information on attitudes that will enable us to monitor and evaluate our effectiveness. Collecting evidence that demonstrates the socioeconomic and environmental value of good architecture and design. Developing research programmes with academic institutions and linking into research being carried out elsewhere. Focusing on the ‘building futures’ initiative to identify and address the key drivers that will shape the built environment. Developing a website including a digital library of best practice projects, with exemplars in architecture and design. Working closely with partners, particularly The Lighthouse, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) in England and the Design Commission for Wales (DCfW), local authorities, public agencies, private and voluntary sector bodies. Reporting annually to the Scottish Parliament We will publish, in late autumn 2005, our 2005-08 Corporate Plan, setting out the development of all our activities. Left to right: Sebastian Tombs, Chief Executive Raymond Young, Chair Brian Evans, Deputy Chair Malcolm Fraser, Deputy Chair Design Panels are chaired by the Deputy Chairs and will involve the following Advisors: Karen Anderson Architect Alison Blamire Architect Margaret Hickish Disability Design Consultant The Policy Board involves the Directors and the Advisors. Eelco Hooftman Landscape Architect The Company Board involves the Directors and the Chief Executive as Company Secretary. Gareth Hoskins Architect John Irvine Chartered Surveyor & Developer Rob Joiner Housing Association Director A+DS Staff: Senga Bate Helen Brown Jo-Anne Martin Terry Mackie Architect Catherine Newton Eleanor McAllister Town Planner & Economist Angela Williams Jill Malvenan Architect Morris Murray Civil & Structural Engineer Professor Ric Russell Architect Paul Stallan Architect Professor Steven Spier Academic & Architect Stephen Tucker Town Planner Brian Veitch Civil & Structural Engineer Sebastian Tombs Bakehouse Close 146 Canongate Edinburgh EH8 8DD UK www.ads.org.uk info@ads.org.uk T +44 (0)131 556 6699 F +44 (0)131 556 6633 Design by Skratch | www.skratchdesign.co.uk
