Urban conservation and urban design in Wales: The perspective of the Design Commission for Wales

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Comisiwn Dylunio Cymru Design Commission for
Wales
Urban conservation and urban design in Wales The
perspective of DCFW
John Punter, Professor of Urban Design, CPLAN,
Cardiff University Director and Chair of Design
Review, DCFW
4th Fl. Building II, Caspian Point, Caspian
Way, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4DQ T 029 2045 1964 F
029 2045 1958 www.dcfw.org
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The role of DCFW

• Established by the Assembly in 2002
• To champion high design standards
• To promote best practice in sustainable
  development
• To promote equal opportunity/ social inclusion
  alongside
• To promote design excellence in day-to- day
• developments as well as prestige projects
• Roles include
• design review of selected projects
• advice to WAG, NHS Estates, LPAs and developers
• skill development and coordination (LPA training)
• research and monitoring
• education at all levelsprimary to professional
• procurement advice

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DCFW design review150 projects since 2003

• 23 design experts, competitive interviews,
  cross-professional, rotated, unpaid, monthly
  meeting
• All projects which LPA, developer, community, or
  WAG want us to see everyday to the iconic
• Offer verbal advice through dialogue and written
  report with recommendation
• Authoritative but non-statutory

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The importance of good design

• Good design is about much more than external
  appearance and aesthetics
• Well designed developments
• Perform their functions well
• Long lasting and adaptable
• Respond well to site/context
• Create delight for users/locals
• Are energy/resource efficient,
• low carbon, accessible,
• minimise envt. impact
• (see PPW and TAN12)
• The value of good design
• Good design adds value to the proposed
  development and to the place where it is located
• Good design does not have to cost more, it will
  often save money the best design will cost more
  at the outset but will repay the investment many
  times
• Mediocre design is poor economics and
  environmentally negligent

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Urban design and urban conservation

• Urban design principles are key to successful
  planning/development control
• Principles underpinned by a conservation ethos
• Character and context (local distinctiveness)
  natural heritage, continuity and enclosure,
  variety and diversity, compactness, legibility,
  accessibility, public realm, adaptability,
  resource efficiency (TAN 12/POSW Guide)
• ..Urban design and conservation are essential
  components of an effective planning system. They
  have the common objective of delivering high
  quality, locally distinct and valued built
  environmentsgood conservation ensures that
  important buildings and spaces continue to have a
  contemporary relevance and vitality. Good urban
  design learns from the past and respects it in
  developing policies and proposals for new
  building and refurbishment and for the
  enhancement of the public realm (CABE/EH/POS
  2003)

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Conservation contexts design conundrums

• City centres and high rise Cardiff and Newport
• Town centre retail Wrexham, Carmarthen,
  Cardigan, Pontypridd,
• Urban design strategies Caernarvon, Abergavenny,
  Swansea
• Public realm Abergavenny, Caernarvon
• Conservation area infill Criccieth, Holywell,
  Llanwrst
• Listed buildings Coal Exchange, Cardiff Castle
• Suburban intensification Ridge Way Rd Newport,
  Whitchurch CF14
• Edge city Dragon Studios, WIBP, Brynmawr,
• Rural settlements Bethlehem
• Edge City Dragon Studios, WIBP
• DCFW is concerned to conserve the distinctiveness
  and ensure the sustainability of the built
  environment everywhere in Wales?
• What can it achieve? (it is not infallible!)

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Cardiff city centre Altolusso Central Hotel
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Newport Spires, Cambrian Way
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Wrexham
Carmarthen
Major Town Centre Retail
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Townscape Heritage Initiative Shop front
restoration
Cardigan
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Riverfront elevation
Angharad Walk Pontypridd Fifth attempt since
2000 Angharad Park vs conservation area
Taff St elevation
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Caernarfon Analysis of urban form
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Swansea
Abergavenny
Urban design strategies
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Abergavenny Cattle Market Asda in-town
Conservation Area edge
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Abergavenny Town Hall Market space
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Caernarfon Town Square
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Criccieth
New Street Mold
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Llanwrst
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Coal Exchange, Cardiff Bay
3rd floor plan
West elevation
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Cardiff Castle restoration visitor centre
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Suburban Intensification Pegasus Apartments,
Church Road, Cardiff
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Redrow Apartments, Porthcawl
Ridgeway Park Road, Newport
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Villages and hamlets
Bethlehem, edge of BBNP
Little Haven
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Edge City
Dragon Studios Jct 35a M4
WIBP Jct 33, M4
Brynmawr
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Some conclusions

• Questions we ask of planning, urban design and
  development control
• Has conservation been downgraded as a
  national/LPA priority?
• Where are the proactive conservation strategies?
• Where are the THF bids and matching funds?
• Where are the watchers in the fields? CAACs?
• What percentage of CAs have been assessed and how
  well?
• Are there trained conservationists in DC? What is
  their workload? Can they impact?
• The new challenges of scale and height
• The complexity of compromise
• Can policy and DC wrest back control?
• Why dont CADW and DCFW work more closely
  together?

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