Resources
Tools
Design Process
- DQI - Design Quality Indicator
- Building for life
- DTI - Manual for Streets
- WRAP - Tools and Guidance
- Sustainable Cities
Assessment
- BREEAM assessor manuals – buildings
- BREEAM Communities – area based housing developments
- Code for Sustainable Homes
- CEEQUAL for engineering/infrastructure projects
- LEED ~US system
Organisations
- The Carbon Trust
- The Carbon Trust supports the development of low carbon technologies and helps business and the public sector cut carbon emissions.
- CABE
- CABE was set up in 1999 and is the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. CABE and CABE Space carry out research, promote policy and publish a range of guides on urban design, public space and architecture issues. CABE’s work includes a design review service, research, campaigns for better design and better education, skills and careers for the built environment and advice services. CABE offers support to a network of regional CABE representatives and part funds the West Midlands architecture centres, MADE and Urban Vision North Staffordshire.
- EST
- Independent, UK based organisation providing free advice and information on energy, water and waste management on reduction.
- Regenwm
- The mission of RegenWM is to promote and develop regeneration excellence in the West Midlands
- DEWM
- DEWM is made up of organisations and agencies involved in the designed environment in the West Midlands. DEWM partners work together to promote design excellence in buildings, places and public spaces. Partners include RegenWM, MADE, Urban Vision North Staffordshire, Housing Corporation, Advantage West Midlands, CABE, RIBA, Arts Council, English Partnerships, WMLB and English Heritage.
- MADE
- MADE is the Regional Architecture Centre in the West Midlands and a member of the National Architecture Centre Network. We support excellence in placemaking; architecture; public spaces and urban design working together to make better places for people.
- Advantage West Midlands
- Advantage West Midlands (AWM) is the regional development agency for the West Midlands, and one of the nine RDAs in England, set up to transform the various regions through sustainable economic development. AWM works with a broad range of partners from public, private and voluntary sectors to lead the economic development of the West Midlands. AWM’s role is to provide leadership for the development and delivery of the West Midlands Economic Strategy. AWM’s annual budget of over £300 million goes towards the economic development of the region and is distributed across around 2,500 projects. These projects range from the development of key strategic regional sites, to the regeneration of communities.
- Arts Council West Midlands
- Arts Council is the national development agency for the arts. It supports a range of artistic activities, brings people together and is a tool for individuals to find out more about themselves and the world around them. Arts Council fund art activities to benefit people from the West Midlands such as educational projects, community engagement schemes, and supporting strategic art activities. Arts Council West Midlands is a regional branch of the Arts Council which is a Government funded agency. Arts Council West Midlands offers support to regional independent artists; it is also keen to engage and involve people who are not currently involved in the visual arts and to promote the presentation of art in unexpected places.
- WMCCE
- The West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence driving Best Practice in the Construction Industry by providing improvement and support to various organisations both in the public and private sectors, with strong emphasis on construction supply chains.
- Urban Vision North Staffordshire
- Launched in 2003, Urban Vision is the architecture and urban design centre for North Staffordshire based at the Burslem School of Art in Stoke-on-Trent. Urban Vision works to promote good practice in architecture and urban design in the area in order to: raise the profile of the area and the quality of life of the local citizens; to bring about successful regeneration and to create a better and more sustainable urban environment. Urban Vision runs an education and training programme involving working with councils, the education sector, regeneration agencies and practitioners, to develop architecture and urban design skills in the city region. Urban Vision also run a Design Review Panel.
- Natural England
- Natural England is the government’s advisor on the natural environment. We provide practical advice, grounded in science, on how best to safeguard England’s natural wealth for the benefit of everyone. Our remit is to ensure sustainable stewardship of the land and sea so that people and nature can thrive. It is our responsibility to see that England’s rich natural environment can adapt and survive intact for future generations to enjoy. We work with farmers and land managers; business and industry; planners and developers; national, regional and local government; interest groups and local communities to help them improve their local environment.
- English Heritage
- English Heritage is the Government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment and is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). English Heritage works to conserve and protect the historic environment, whilst making it accessible to the public in order to increase people’s knowledge and understanding of the past. English Heritage’s aim in the West Midlands is to identify old structures and help to protect them, conserve them and possibly enhance them. English Heritage also want to make the regions heritage accessible and understandable to local people by offering a variety of days out, events, visits to old properties and historical re-enactments.
- Homes and Communities Agency – HCA
- Formed on 1 December 2008, the HCA is the national housing and regeneration agency for England; the HCA has brought together English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and the Academy for Sustainable Communities – now known as the HCA Academy – and has incorporated a number of programmes from Communities and Local Government. The HCA has a strategic presence in each of the English regions. It’s role is:
- To improve the supply and quality of housing in England
- To secure the regeneration or development of land or infrastructure in England
- To support in other ways the creation, regeneration or development of communities in England or their continued well-being
- To contribute to the achievement of sustainable development and good design in England, with a view to meeting the needs of people living in England
- BRE
- The BRE Group carries out a range of consultancy, testing, certification, commissioned research and training services covering all aspects of the built environment and associated industries.
- CLG
- Communities and Local Government is working hard to create thriving, sustainable, vibrant communities that improve everyone’s quality of life.
- DEFRA
- DEFRA is tasked with the following:
- Secure a healthy natural environment for us all and deal with environmental risks
- Promote a sustainable, low-carbon and resource-efficient economy
- Ensure a thriving farming sector and a sustainable, healthy and secure food supply
- Environment Agency
- Our principal aims are to protect and improve the environment, and to promote sustainable development. We play a central role in delivering the environmental priorities of central government and the Welsh Assembly Government through our functions and roles.
- WRAP
- WRAP’s mission is to accelerate resource efficiency by creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products. One aspect of work is helping the construction industry to use resources more efficiently.