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Unity Square

Ilford

Process

Including design-specific criteria in the brief

When the CABE enabler joined the project in 2006 the brief for the development of the site had already been written. Her first role was to join the panel for selecting a developer partner and  review the proposed criteria for the selection process. She noticed that although Redbridge council had emphasised it wanted “high quality design” for Unity Square, only one of the 10 criteria was relevant to design.

The CABE enabler recommended that:

  • design and design-related delivery issues should be added to several other criteria
  • a minimum score should be set on design criteria to avoid selecting a proposal that was strong on delivery and finance but weak on design.

Selecting the development team

 Redbridge council received three proposals from developers by the end of 2006. The CABE enabler provided detailed, impartial advice on the proposals under headings which included:

  • open space
  • character and conservation of buildings
  • sustainability
  • housing
  • connectivity
  • streetscape
  • the bidder’s track record and professional skills
  • design quality
  • integration with the existing environment.

Bellway was appointed after interviews early in 2007. The developer’s team also included Levitt Bernstein Architects; Whitelaw Turkington, landscape architects; Theatreplan theatre consultants and Paul Gillieron Acoustic Design.  The Masterplan was prepared for Redbridge Council by Tibbalds and Karakusevic Carson;  

Getting the most from the planning process

The CABE enabler advised the council about securing high quality design for the public realm and the theatre through the planning process, including:

  • the level of detail required for the planning application
  • use of reserved matters to ensure that the design was not degraded after approval.

Appointing a client design advisor

Given the technical complexity of designing a new theatre, the CABE enabler recommended that Redbridge council should appoint a consultant to act as its client design advisor.  This would help ensure that the council achieved a high quality design that met all of its needs.

The council’s arts and leisure division, regeneration division, and the manager and technical manager of the Kenneth More Theatre worked with the CABE enabler to write a brief for recruiting the client design advisor. The enabler also assisted with the selection process.  

As it was difficult to find one person with all the necessary skills, the team agreed to find two or three people to act as the council’s theatre design advisers.