Westminster announces Design Review Panel members

Westminster City Council has unveiled its first ever Design Review Panel, a board of experts that will provide independent advice on major development, planning, public realm and regeneration projects in the city.
The 32 members of the panel, including three co-chairs, have been drawn from various fields of expertise including architecture, ecology, sustainability, transport, inclusive design, landscape architecture, heritage, and urban design. The panel will complement the council’s in-house expertise, championing high quality sustainable design across all development projects. 

The three co-chairs are Catherine Burd, founding director of Burd Haward Architects and a conservation specialist, Damion Burrows, managing director at DMBA and broadcaster on property-related TV shows, and Vinita Dhume Director of Masterplanning and Urban Design, Savills.

The panel will guide the design of proposals to ensure they add value to local communities and help meet the council’s ambitious targets to create new jobs, new homes, and become a net zero city by 2040.

Councillor James Small-Edwards, Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:

I am thrilled to announce Westminster’s first ever Design Review Panel. This panel of experts from a broad range of disciplines will work with the council and provide independent advice on planning decisions.

There are more than 11,000 listed buildings in Westminster, and the city is home to some of the most recognisable buildings and public spaces in the world. 

This panel will ensure the future development of the city is sustainable, supports our communities, and maintains the high quality of architectural design that makes Westminster so special.

Design Review Panel Co-chair, Catherine Burd, said:

I am delighted to have been appointed to lead Westminster’s new Design Review Panel. Our aim will be to ensure design quality is placed at the heart of decision making in the City.  I will bring experience gained from chairing Quality Review Panels in both Camden and the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, together with expertise of delivering residential and cultural projects in historic environments.

I’m interested in exploring how the need for growth is balanced against impacts on existing communities, and how new development can contribute to the wider public good in our city – be it through provision of high quality new open spaces, well-designed sustainable new buildings or creative, adaptive reuse of existing buildings.

Co-chair Damion Burrows said:

The City of Westminster hosts some of London’s finest architectural treasures, and is the global face of the UK for many. Having designed and delivered many projects within the City over decades, I am thrilled to join a panel which is able to both preserve and progress Westminster’s celebrated reputation for excellence.

I look forward to working with my co-chairs and a strong, diverse panel to ensure that new developments share our aspirations for design excellence, sustainability and contextual empathy, making Westminster a successful and sustainable shared city.

Co-chair Vinita Dhume said:

As a local resident and working professional within the borough, I am looking forward to seeing a greater impact on design delivery and place shaping. Fundamental improvements are already being made to public spaces, neighbourhoods, and quality of life for residents in recent years – and this journey will continue with renewed energy and drive from a dedicated panel which brings a broad breadth of knowledge on various aspects of design.

I feel privileged to be part of this fantastic new cohort of diverse professionals, all deeply committed to making positive contributions to future good growth and to enable further sustainable placemaking in Westminster.