IMPLEMENTATION

06 AND DELIVERY

6.1 Managing the design process 6.2 Stage one: getting started 6.3 Stage two: appreciating
the context 6.4 Stage three: creating the urban structure and making the connections
6.5 Stage four: detailing the place 6.6 Stage five: following up
Crescent Block, West Silvertown, London (Designer: Tibbalds Monro)
 A review of the case studies makes it clear that in general success
emerges from:

• a widely based and consistent commitment; from the

communities involved, the landowners, developers, public
authorities, funding agencies, voluntary organisations and
the professional planning and design team to a quality
product;
• the establishment of an appropriate design management
and review process working at each stage of the project; with
a clear project management and reporting structure;
• the assembly from the outset of a high quality multi-
professional team working as a cohesive unit toward
a defined vision and agreed project objectives.

With this in mind, this chapter provides a framework for

considering how to organise the design process.While it is not
the primary purpose of the Compendium to provide detailed
advice on design procurement, it is necessary to recognise the
importance of managing the design process properly and in a
structured manner.This means planning the various activities
and the community participation process to enable the focus on
quality to be sustained throughout a project’s life-time - from
inception through construction and ongoing management.To
achieve success, it is crucial that the design procurement process
is well defined and that each step contributes to the realisation
of the long-term vision.

urban design compendium 109

6 implementation and delivery table 6.1 design management flowchart
STAGE

DELIVERABLE
1 GETTING STARTED PRODUCTS

• Assemble steering group and core client team • Form a multidisciplinary project team
• PROJECT BRIEF
• Identify project manager • Define the project terms of reference, responsibilities • PROJECT
• Set project objectives and authority delegations EXECUTION PLAN
• Outline a strategy and its resource requirements • Establish overall objectives, scope of work • INITIAL PROJECT
and deliverables PROPOSALS
• Define budgets and funding sources
• Estimate team inputs and prepare a programme
• Decide lines of communication
• Encourage active community participation
• Establish review process for monitoring and control

client review and sign off

2 APPRECIATING THE CONTEXT (CHAPTER 2)

• Collate existing data and information • Prepare a SWOT analysis • PROJECT
• Undertake site analysis and context appraisals • Undertake ‘Planning for Real’ or design charette APPRECIATION
- Community appraisal workshop as necessary AND DEFINITION
REPORT
- Planning policy analysis • Set design principles and objectives
• DESIGN
- Character appraisal • Agree the overall “vision” and initial concept ideas PRINCIPLES
- Environmental and landscape appraisal OBJECTIVES,
- Movement analysis VISION AND
- Market supply and demand assessment INITIAL CONCEPT
- Engineering feasibility IDEAS
• Meet stakeholders and canvass local opinions
• Liaise with statutory service providers
• Sift the information
client review and sign off

3 CREATING THE URBAN STRUCTURE/MAKING THE CONNECTIONS (CHAPTERS 3&4)

• Define assessment criteria • Outline proposed development form, • DRAFT
• Confirm base case content and mix MASTERPLAN
• POSSIBLE
• Generate options (if necessary) • Elaborate the plan
OUTLINE
• Evaluate options • Undertake environmental, community and traffic PLANNING
• Establish preferred approach impact assessment and financial appraisals APPLICATION /
• Present design rationale to client team / community • Prepare urban design guidelines DEVELOPMENT
forum (depending on project scope) • Define delivery mechanisms AGREEMENT /
• Review project (internal and community) IMPACT
ASSESSMENTS
(ENVIRONMENT,
COMMUNITY,
TRAFFIC ETC),
FINANCIAL
client review and sign off APPRAISAL

4 DETAILING THE PLACE (CHAPTER 5)

• Identify priorities (short/medium/long term) • Progress detailed Masterplan • DETAILED
• Prepare Action Plan and programme - Sectoral plans MASTERPLAN
• DESIGN GUIDES
• Focus detailed design development and feasibility on - Three-dimensional imagery
OR CODES
priority projects - Site-specific and thematic urban design briefs • DEVELOPMENT
• Detail delivery mechanisms and programme BRIEFS
• ACTION PLAN

client review and sign off

5 FOLLOWING UP
• Confirm implementation and • Formalise design review protocol • IMPLEMENTATION
management arrangements • Monitor project implementation against STRATEGY
• Formally adopt Masterplan / briefs design principles, objectives and Masterplan intentions • INDIVIDUAL
PROJECT PROPOSALS
• Promote / market proposals • Agree updating procedures
• MONITORING
• Sustain community involvement REPORTS
• Create media interest
6 implementation and delivery 6.1 managing the design process

H M Treasury Procurement Guidance notes,

These relate to all areas of public sector procurement The flowchart on the opposite page provides a simplified framework for the
(and focus on construction work).Within this context, management of the design process. It charts the journey along which the
design management falls within the basic principles of
good practice that is outlined in this series of ‘booklets’. commissioning client and design team travel and highlights the major steps
These recognise the importance of design in obtaining
value for money, whilst balancing affordability with design - passing from project inception to completion of detailed design and
excellence.They are intended to supplement and replace
The Central Unit of Purchasing (CUP) guidances notes
ongoing management.The remainder of this chapter briefly describes each
previously issued by the Treasury. phase and is cross-referenced to design guidance contained in the rest of the
The series consists of nine documents, the titles of which document, with further references provided for additional reading.
are listed below.There are only six of these published at
the present time (Nos 1 – 6).The remaining three are due
in 2000. It should be noted that this flow chart is for the ‘urban design process’not
1 Essential requirements for Construction Procurement the development process as a whole.Thus, this is only a caricature of a
(Dated 12/97)
2 Value for Money in Construction Procurement (Dated process that is, in reality, more detailed than this sequence can portray -
12/97)
3 Appointment of Consultants and Contractors
requiring numerous feedback loops and iterations, continuous re-
(Dated 12/97) evaluations and reviews.The key purpose is to emphasise that while the
4 Teamworking Partnering and Incentives
(Dated June 99) comprehensive coverage of this flowchart is particularly applicable to large
5 Procurement Strategies (Dated June 99)
6 Financial Effects of Projects (Dated June 99) sites, where the full range of inputs will be required, the need for a
7 Whole life Costs (not yet issued) structured approach to design management is true of all scales of design
8 Project Evaluation and Feedback (not yet issued)
9 Benchmarking (not yet issued) development.While the urban design process needs to be tailored according
All obtainable from: to circumstance, but it is important that a sequential process is followed.
The Treasury’s Public Enquiry Unit
Room 89/2
This should include:
HM Treasury • a single point of contact for managing the design process;
Parliament Street
London SW1P 3AG • clearly identified tasks and responsibilities;
Tel: 0717 207 4558
www.treasury.gov.uk/gccp • client review and ‘sign-offs’for completion of each stage, related to
CUP Guidance notes are obtainable from the same address,
delivery of ‘outputs’or ‘products’(such as a Development Framework or
but are being phased out as they are embodied in the above Design Guide);
nine documents. Each of the above booklets makes
reference to the CUP notes that it supersedes, but they are • a defined budgetary control system, identification of funding
not sequential.
sources and time scales;
• a procurement strategy, and delivery mechanisms for making
References the project happen.
Project Management and Design Procurement

• English Partnerships ‘Project Management Manual’.

• European Community Services Directive (92/50/EEC)
effective 1st July 1993 (Threshold 200,000 ECU).This
relates to the procurement of a range of services, and is
the main one that (subject to threshold limits) is likely to
impact on the design process. It will also effect time
scales, as there are minimum time scales set out for
tendering.
• European Community Works Directive (71/305/EEC) of
1976 Amended by (89/440/EEC) in 1989 UK Law Public
Works Contract regulations 1991 (SI 2680) (Threshold 5
Million ECU).This deals with the procurement of works,
and as such we need to be aware of this during the
design process as it may, subject to the threshold value
affect time scales for inviting and awarding tenders.•
HM Treasury, Procurement Guidance notes
(see opposite)
• HM Treasury ‘Central Unit of Purchasing
(CUP) Guidance’notes

Urban Design Principles and Procurement

• English Partnerships / Urban Villages Forum (1998)
‘Making Places’.
• English Partnerships (1996) ‘Time for Design’.
• English Partnerships (1996) ‘Time for Design II’.
• The Urban Task Force (1999) ‘Towards an Urban
Renaissance’.
• The Urban Villages Forum (1992 and 1998)
‘Urban Villages’.

Quality Standards
• The Department of Environment,Transport and the
Regions in association with the Housing Corporation
(1998) ‘Housing Quality Indicators’.
• The Housing Corporation (1998) ‘Scheme Development
Standards’

Economic Feasibility
• Bentley et al (1987) ‘Responsive Environments’
summarises how to undertake an economic feasibility
check (Chapter 2).
• HM Treasury (1997) ‘Appraisal and Evaluation in Central
Government’– “The Green Book”‘The Green Book’-
Government Treasury
• Urban Villages Forum (1998) ‘Economics of Urban
Villages’.

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6 implementation and delivery 6.2 stage one: getting started

Pointers on Tendering for Urban Design Consultants Identify the main driving force behind the project, whether this is
• Use pre-qualification procedures to select short list community-led, private partnership, local or other public authority.This will
(4–6 teams maximum)
inform the composition of a steering group or committee of local
• Give adequate time for bidding (4 weeks for pre-qualification;
4 for tendering). stakeholders, which may include residents, local government, businesses,
• With pre-qualified teams, concentrate on the assessment of institutions, community and special interest groups. Once formed, this
the team and approach for the assignment in hand.
group oversees the core client team, which has executive authority for
• Consider assessment systems prior to calling for
pre-qualification and bidding – and make them explicit. taking the project forward. A project manager, (or team leader/project
• Consider how to get best value for money.The idea ‘best is sponsor), is identified with the prime responsibility for co-ordinating and
cheapest’in this type of work is not appropriate. A two
delivering the project.
envelope system (Technical and Financial proposals), with the
financial proposals only considered between once the best
technical consideration has been agreed upon (covered by An initial appraisal undertaken by the client to define the key issues in a
Treasury Procurement Guidance Notes).
comprehensive, if preliminary, way is essential. An early seminar/think
• Subject to the European Services Directive 92/50/EEC
session of a multi-professional team and the client bodies can help
enormously in getting the basics in place. Project objectives are set, together
with an outline strategy as to how these are to be achieved and the resource
requirements, taking account of funding and resource constraints. Design
development considerations must be properly in place from the outset.This
information forms the basis of a project brief, which should be set out in a
formal document as part of the project execution plan, stating clearly:
• the people involved in the project, names and contact addresses;
• team inputs, responsibilities and authority-delegations;
• the overall terms of reference, objectives, scope of work and
deliverables;
• defined budgets and funding sources;
• any procurement constraints, lines of communication and
reporting mechanisms;
• estimates of the programme and review process for monitoring
and control.

A multidisciplinary project team (or teams) is then required to submit

detailed project proposals, following a competitive tendering process if
appropriate.The appointment should be confirmed after negotiations and
discussions with the selected team (see box on pointers for tendering).This
helps ‘tune’ the joint approach and is the key first step in team building
between the client body and the project team.

The process should encourage the active participation of all sectors of

the community from the outset. Interaction with team members and local
commitment to the process in the form of financial support, in-kind services,
or volunteer time create a sense of ownership in the results thus helping to
sustain the energy needed to implement proposals.

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6 implementation and delivery 6.3 stage two: appreciating the context

Collation of existing data and information avoids having to reinvent the

wheel. As set out in Chapter 2, a full appreciation of the context
will build upon this. Information to obtain should include:
• community appraisal / audit;
• analysis of planning policies (including Regional Development Plans);
• character appraisal;
• environmental and landscape appraisal (including surveys of the
topography, geology, ground conditions and potential for
contamination, as appropriate);
• movement analysis;
• market supply and demand assessment;
• engineering feasibility (including services availability).

All this requires meeting stakeholders, canvassing local opinions and

analysing community needs, delving into archives and looking at local
assets. Liaison with statutory service providers will help ensure proposals
have a firm footing.

The contextual appreciation will begin to suggest development potential

and workable ways to get things done. Information needs to be sifted and
summarised via a SWOT analysis (see 2.6), or similar method. An important
component of this is the identification of any physical constraints to the
future land use that will impact on the development.

Contextual studies for Granton Waterfront Such analysis may be carried out as part of a ‘Planning for Real’, or Design
Charette / Workshop programme, for instance, which provide useful ways of
brainstorming, consensus building and focussing community involvement.
The SWOT analysis provides the underlying rationale for the preparation of
design principles and objectives to aim towards. Before moving to the
next stage, the overall “vision”should be agreed, mutual benefits reached
between participants and initial concept ideas discussed, which will help
to focus Masterplan development.

urban design compendium 113

 6.4 stage three: creating the urban
6 implementation and delivery 6.4 structure and making the connections

Proposals now come more sharply into focus as to how the existing place
can be improved, new urban forms created and activities added. Advice
contained in Chapters 3 and 4 is fused together as the scheme takes shape.

For the project and client teams to evaluate the best way forward, it is first
necessary to agree on the assessment criteria .Typically this will combine
the design principles with community need, economic viability and
engineering feasibility. It is important that a land remediation strategy, if
necessary, follows the design intentions and not vice versa.Where a site is
heavily contaminated it will be necessary to revisit the design layout to
achieve the highest quality and most economic solution.The way
contamination is dealt with should be part of the creative design process.
Design development is an iterative process and will involve constant and
frequent reviews of all the issues as more information is obtained.

The base case then needs to be confirmed, which will include ‘do nothing’,
and options generated for comparison.These, ideally, offer no more than
three different strategic directions - even for a large site. Sometimes the
preferred way forward will be so apparent to the team that structured
options may be unnecessary. However, even in this scenario a management
decision making process must be documented to give a clear audit trail, and
facilitate a ‘best practice review’.

Evaluation of the options establishes the preferred approach amongst

the project team. Depending on the scale and scope of the project, the
design rationale will then be presented to the client team and, if
appropriate, to the wider community. Proposals should be worked up with
community feedback and ongoing involvement - the most helpful inputs at
this stage are often the result of people being able to weigh up the pros and
cons of different scenarios, and understanding the underlying logic of the
preferred route forward, but technical information must be made ‘user-
friendly’and robust

As the scheme design becomes more definite, an ‘accommodation

schedule’ is defined - comprising a matrix of building types, uses and floor
areas.This is used as the basis for the quantity surveyor to assess costs and
chartered surveyor to ascertain values and feed into the economic appraisal.

The client weighs the social and economic considerations (existing and new
markets, local and regional impact, costs, values, gap funding and funding
availability) against the design specifications and project objectives.This
forms the basis of an iterative dialogue between the client group and design
team, which leads to refinement of the scheme.

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 6.4 stage three: creating the urban structure
6 implementation and delivery 6.4 and making the connections

As designs are elaborated, ideas for development form, content and mix,
require more rigorous research and testing. Plan assessments may take
the form of environmental, community and/or traffic impact studies. A
financial appraisal will certainly be necessary to ensure proposals are
grounded in economic reality. Designs also need to be considered in
relation to:
• economic and financial parameters - using Cost Benefit Analysis and
cash flow projections;
• an appropriate delivery structure - whether a partnership, developer,
joint venture company or trust;
• management and maintenance responsibilities, particularly of open
spaces and shared access.
Publicising the draft Masterplan
A Development Framework or Masterplan is the likely output of this
References stage - which is still in draft form until more detailed proposals are worked
Community involvement up - but this may be enriched with more detailed urban design guidelines
• English Partnershps (1998) ‘Brick by Brick: How to develop a and indicative ideas for individual schemes.This ‘package’may form the
community building’.
• Groundwork Hackney (1999) ‘Changing Estates’(community basis for a discussion with the planning authority in relation to an outline
involvement in landscape projects on council estates:
020 8985 1755) planning application or development agreement.
• Mayo, E. et al (1997) ‘Taking power: an agenda for community
economic renewal’, New Economic Foundation, explains
different community collaboration techniques. Parkes, M A period of review will follow within the project team, client body and also,
(1995) ‘Guide to Community Planning and Development’
(LPAC) more widely, as community feedback is encouraged via the use of
• Parkes, M. (1995) ‘Guide to Community Planning and
Development’, LPAC exhibitions, workshops and focussed meetings as necessary.
• Urban Design Group (1998) ‘Involving Local Communities in
Urban Design - Promoting Good Practice’(a special report
provided in the Urban Design Quarterly, Issue 67, July)
provides a good source-list on ways of organising design
management.
• Wates, N. (2000) ‘The Community Planning Handbook’,
Earthscan

Design competitions
• Nasar, J.L. (1999) ‘Design by Competition: making design
competition work’, Cambridge University Press

Design rationales
• Hayward, R. (1993) Rationales and the Practice of Everyday
Urban Design in ‘Making Better Places - Urban Design Now’
(Eds. Hayward, R. and McGlynn, S.) explains the use of urban
design rationales.

Masterplan briefing
• English Partnerships (1999) ‘Allerton Bywater Development
Brief’(Stage One and Two) provide good references for
comprehensive Masterplan briefing documents.
• Urban Task Force (1999) ‘Towards an Urban Renaissance’
provides a checklist of design issues to be covered in a
Masterplan (see Figure 2.10 (p.74).

Development trusts
• Department of Environment (1988) ‘Creating Development
Trusts: Good Practice in Regeneration’provides an
explanation of different development trust models and a
series of case studies.

St. John’s Village, Wolverhampton

urban design compendium 115

6 implementation and delivery 6.5 stage four: detailing the place

As designs become more detailed, priorities are identified for short, medium
and long term implementation.These may be formalised into an
Action Plan or form part of the revised Project Execution Plan, with detailed
design development and feasibility studies focussed on priority sections of
the overall project - targeting realistic ideas for helping communities to
achieve the vision of their future. Masterplan proposals are given further
definition with the use of sectoral plans (‘layering’ transport routes,
landscaping and building form, for instance) and three-dimensional
imagery including perspectives, computer or physical modelling and
axonometrics, as appropriate.

As design moves towards ‘pre-architecture’, attention is paid to how discrete

elements (often developed by separate developers and their consultants)
can work in unison, making sure there is a positive relationship between
buildings and the public realm. Key outputs at this stage are the preparation
of detailed design guidance for others to follow.These are likely to take the
form of design guides / codes or development briefs, which may be
consolidated within the final Masterplan. Design guides establish the
core principles and set out detailed guidelines or performance criteria,
whereas codes are a set of more prescriptive requirements for the
dimensioning of blocks and plots, streets, squares, buildings and access.
Development briefs are site-specific documents, combining relevant
planning policies and urban design parameters, and are sometimes linked to
a competitive bidding process.

Urban design briefing documents can be usefully arranged according to the

following categories:
• specific guidelines for individual site design and development;
• specific guidelines for major public realm areas, such as routes,
footpaths, parks, gardens and waterfronts;
• generic guidelines for the three-dimensional elements of the project,
such as street and building cross-sections, corners and parking
arrangements;
• generic guidelines on detailed public realm components, such as
floorscape, street furniture, signage and lighting.

City Centre, Bratislava

Detailed designs are also influenced by the delivery mechanisms and
implementation programme.These have been considered from the outset,
References
but at this stage are confirmed, particularly by clarifying:
• the management of public areas - through initiatives such as local
Design briefing
community trusts, local partnerships and management companies.
• DETRE and CABE (2000) By Design: Urban Design in the
Planning System
The management and supervision of public areas such as squares,
• DETR (1998) Planning and Development Briefs: A guide to community parks and children’s play areas are a key part of ensuring the
better practice.
• Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company (1997) The Technique physical and social quality of the environment is maintained.This
of Town Planning
• Hulme Regeneration Ltd. (1994) ‘Rebuilding the City: A Guide will be the subject of detailed discussion with the local authority and
to Development in Hulme’provides an exemplary example of local residents’groups and associations;
design guidance.
• Krieger, A (Ed.) (1991) Towns and Town Making Principles, • the adoption and maintenance of streets, squares and parkland;
New York, Rizzoli
• Tibbalds Monro for Wimpey Homes (1995) The Urban Village • the management of quality through planning obligations, covenants
Design Codes:West Silvertown Urban Village
• Urban Design Quarterly (1994) ‘Urban Design Briefing’,
and other legal and financial agreements.
special issue 51, July
• Western Australian Planning Commission (1997)
Liveable Neighbourhoods: Community design code

116 urban design compendium

6 implementation and delivery 6.6 stage five: following up

Once detailed designs have been agreed upon, confirmation of the

implementation and management arrangements
needs to target in particular:
• the programme of delivery - to ensure a diverse range of development
opportunities, choice of sites and forms of accommodation.This will
also facilitate affordable housing, self-build and self-managed houses
and development by a range of developers and their design teams, from
the small scale local builders to regional or national companies;
• the management of site sales to ensure urban design consistency;
• the setting of a high quality management and maintenance regime,
Byker, Newcastle - upon - Type especially of the public realm, after project completion.
(Designer: Ralph Erskine)

Formal adoption of the Masterplan or briefs as Supplementary Planning

Guidance ensures that they ‘bite’when it comes to development control.
Effort put into promotion and marketing helps sustain community
involvement and create media and developer interest.

Formalising design review protocol ensures that the client body keeps its
‘eye on the ball’when it comes to safeguarding design quality as defined in
the project objectives. It may be appropriate to retain the Masterplanner in
an advisory capacity when the client is considering development of the
individual plots or phasing of the overall project. Design Review Panels,
initiated from the project outset and comprising multi-disciplinary
professionals and community representatives, can help to make sure
everyone is pulling in the same direction. Project implementation is
monitored against Masterplan intentions, design principles, objectives,
agreed outputs and targets. Updating procedures are then agreed upon
so that designs remain up-to-date. As individual projects are implemented,
periodic reviews are carried out, assessed against best practice, using
perhaps for example the Compendium as a point of reference.

urban design compendium 117