Main Services
The Design Review Panel is an independent, impartial and nationally recognised design review service that supports the improvement of design quality across the built environment throughout the United Kingdom. Founded and led by Chartered Architect Jonathan Braddick, the Panel occupies a unique position within the planning and development landscape: it brings together over 130 multidisciplinary volunteers—architects, landscape architects, town planners, ecologists, urban designers, engineers and other built-environment specialists—to provide expert, non-directive design review at the earliest and most influential stages of the planning process. The Panel’s purpose is rooted in the principles set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which emphasises the importance of tools such as independent design review in assessing the quality, sustainability and appropriateness of development proposals. Local planning authorities are encouraged to have regard to the outcomes of design review, and numerous planning appeal decisions have confirmed that the feedback of The Design Review Panel can be a material consideration in the planning process. This has positioned the organisation as one of the most respected and relied-upon independent review bodies operating nationally. What sets the organisation apart The Design Review Panel stands out in several key ways. First and foremost is its independence. Unlike many design review services administered directly by local planning authorities, The Design Review Panel operates completely separately from councils and commercial planning consultancies. Panel members are unpaid volunteers who contribute their time purely because of their commitment to design quality and good place-making. This ensures that every session is free from conflicts of interest, political influence or commercial pressure. Only expenses are reimbursed, preserving transparency and trust in every review. Second, the Panel’s multidisciplinary approach ensures that each scheme is reviewed holistically. Every session is tailored by assigning a group of volunteers whose professional experience directly aligns with the project’s context—whether it involves placemaking, masterplanning, landscape sensitivity, architecture, ecology, sustainability or heritage. This enables the Panel to give detailed, balanced and technically informed feedback that helps design teams refine their proposals before a planning application is submitted. This approach has proven especially valuable for major housing schemes, regeneration projects, and NPPF Paragraph 84(e) “isolated home in the countryside” proposals, where nuanced critique and landscape-led thinking are essential. Third, the Panel’s model is intentionally accessible. Reviews can be carried out online or in-person, with or without a site visit, and can be arranged for projects anywhere in the United Kingdom. This scalability has allowed the Panel to support projects ranging from small rural dwellings to large mixed-use urban extensions. Sessions are available in several formats—including 90-minute, 2.5-hour, 4-hour and extended 7.5-hour major project sessions—giving applicants the flexibility to choose the depth of review appropriate to their stage of design. A founder with a strong architectural and professional background Jonathan Braddick, the founder and Managing Director, has built the organisation on his own professional ethos of rigour, independence and public service. As a Chartered Architect (RIBA), former RIBA Branch Chair for Plymouth, former RIBA Regional Chair for the South West, and experienced RIBA Part 3 examiner at the Welsh School of Architecture, Jonathan brings decades of experience in both practice and professional education. This background shapes the Panel’s culture, tone and quality expectations. Jonathan’s ongoing involvement in major development projects, professional education and national policy discussions ensures the organisation remains forward-thinking and deeply informed about contemporary planning and design challenges. Interesting facts about the organisation and its operations National volunteer network: The Panel now includes over 130 specialist volunteers from across the country, making it one of the largest independent design review networks in the UK. Every volunteer is selected for their expertise, professionalism and ability to contribute meaningful critique. Material consideration in planning: Numerous planning appeal decisions—issued by the Planning Inspectorate—explicitly give weight to the Panel’s feedback. This reinforces the Panel’s credibility and demonstrates the real-world impact of its work on planning outcomes nationwide. Used by LPAs, developers, landowners and community groups: The Panel works with a remarkably diverse range of clients, including major housebuilders, strategic land promoters, SMEs, architects, planning consultants, parish councils and individual homeowners. Local authorities often reference the Panel’s comments in their officer reports. Unique emphasis on early-stage engagement: The Panel strongly advocates for early design review, often pre-application, where meaningful improvements can be made. This reinforces the NPPF’s guidance that design review has the most value when used early in scheme evolution. Completely impartial funding model: The applicant pays an administrative fee to convene the Panel, but Panel members themselves are not paid for their expertise. This structure ensures independence while remaining sustainable and accessible. Specialist expertise in Paragraph 84(e) “isolated homes in the countryside” cases: The Panel regularly provides review sessions for high-quality rural dwellings submitted under Paragraph 84(e), where an exceptionally high design threshold applies. Feedback from the Panel has positively influenced the outcomes of several such proposals across the country. Expansion into digital tools and assessment services Alongside The Design Review Panel, Jonathan has also founded BHL Assessments Ltd—a complementary business providing a digital self-assessment and validation tool for schemes assessed against the national Building for a Healthy Life framework. This platform allows architects, planners and developers to assess their proposals and then, if desired, commission an independent validation by The Design Review Panel. This digital innovation has been widely welcomed as a practical, transparent and modern approach to design quality assurance. The BHL tool integrates cutting-edge automation, Jotform Enterprise, Airtable, and dynamic certificate generation, making design assessment more accessible, consistent and replicable. The Validation and Premium Validation services link back directly to The Design Review Panel, providing independent review that aligns with planning policy expectations. Commitment to high standards, transparency and public value A defining characteristic of the Panel is its commitment to producing thorough, professional and genuinely useful feedback. Every report is written carefully in present tense, using neutral, non-directive language, and offering clear observations and suggestions that help design teams present their proposals more clearly and robustly at planning application stage. The Panel does not offer planning advice, nor does it make recommendations; its role is to provide constructive, expert critique that supports good design outcomes. The organisation is also strongly committed to transparency. The design review process is clearly explained, pricing is fully published, and panel membership is visible on the website. Bookings are made via a simple online form, and administrative processes are handled efficiently with the support of modern digital tools. The emphasis is always on clarity, consistency and professionalism. Looking ahead: a forward-thinking, technology-enabled future The Design Review Panel continues to invest in technology, automation and improved customer experience. Jonathan is actively developing systems that integrate Zoom recordings, voice-memo uploads, automated transcription, AI-assisted report drafting, and dynamic data management through Airtable and Glide. This forward-thinking approach allows the organisation to deliver a very high level of administrative quality and efficiency while keeping the focus on design excellence. Future plans include real-time AI support tools for Panel Chairs, automated social media updates, a unified volunteer portal for accepting session invites, and further enhancements to the BHL platform. These developments reflect a broader commitment not just to maintaining high standards of design review, but to improving the wider ecosystem of planning, design governance and quality assurance. Conclusion The Design Review Panel is more than a review service—it is a national, values-driven network of professionals committed to improving the quality of the built environment. Its independence, impartiality, volunteer model and multidisciplinary expertise set it apart within the design review landscape. Under Jonathan’s leadership, it continues to grow, innovate and champion design excellence across the UK. With a unique blend of professional rigour, public-interest ethos and technological innovation, the organisation offers a rare combination of credibility, accessibility and forward-thinking practice.