Essex Quality Review Panel (EQRP)

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Place Services Urban Design has led the delivery and management of the Essex Quality Review Panel (EQRP) on behalf of the Essex Planning Officers Association (EPOA) since its establishment in 2019. The panel provides objective, independent, multidisciplinary design review, supporting local planning authorities, applicants and site promoters to achieve high-quality, sustainable development across Essex. Acting as a critical friend, EQRP embeds design quality as early as possible in the planning process, ensuring that proposals respond positively to their context and reflect best practice in urban design, placemaking and environmental performance.

Since its inception, the panel has delivered over 110 design reviews across eight Essex district authorities, as well as Essex County, assessing proposals covering approximately 4,900 hectares of land and 75,000+ homes. This significant body of work demonstrates the scale of Place Services’ involvement in shaping growth across the county. The panel brings together expertise in urban design, architecture, landscape, ecology, arboriculture, transport, heritage and sustainability, enabling a holistic approach that reflects the complexity of modern development. Place Services also contributes Landscape, Ecology, and Heritage Panellists when required.

In addition to the core panel, Place Services manages a number of focused sub-panels that respond to specific priorities across Essex, including:

Uttlesford Quality Review Panel, supporting the Uttlesford Design Code and emerging Local Plan

• Schools Quality Review Panel, helping to improve the quality of new education environments
• NSIP Quality Review Panel, supporting the design quality of nationally significant infrastructure projects, including renewable energy schemes
• Livewell Quality Review Panel, promoting healthy and inclusive place-making

Through its management of EQRP, Place Services Urban Design plays a central role in raising design standards, supporting robust decision-making, and promoting the principles of the National Design Guide and Essex Design Guide. Place Services runs the EQRP website, interviews and selects potential expert panellists and panel chairs whose details are published online, chooses panel members to suit each scheme, coordinates reviews and site visits, and prepares clear, concise reports that capture and communicate panel feedback.

This end-to-end service facilitates constructive dialogue between stakeholders and ensures that new development contributes positively to the character, resilience and long-term quality of Essex’s built environment.