Local Design Review Scheme

Now Closed

This online engagement was hosted on YourSAy from 26 June to 21 August 2020. Find out more about the consultation process. Below is a record of the engagement.

What is Design Review?

The design quality of our built environment not only relates to the ‘look and feel’ of buildings and places, but how successfully they meet the needs of the people who use and experience them. High-quality design helps make our buildings and places better for people, the environment and economy.

Design Review is an independent evaluation process where a panel of built environment experts review the design quality of a development proposal before it is lodged for assessment. The role of Design Review is not to redesign proposals, but to identify and discuss opportunities to encourage high-quality design.

The benefits of Design Review include:

supporting high-quality design
improving access to independent and expert design advice early in the planning and design process
supporting consistent and informed planning decisions
facilitating collaboration between allied professionals that can positively contribute to professional development

Design Review is most effective when undertaken early in the planning and design process, prior to a development application being lodged, where the opportunities to effect positive change are greatest.

The Local Design Review Scheme

The draft Scheme is designed to establish a consistent approach to delivering Local Design Review that will support council staff, private sector professionals and proponents.

Local Design Review under this new scheme will only be available to development proposals before they are lodged for assessment. The service will also be voluntary, providing proponents with a choice to participate and receive independent design advice.

The design advice is a summary of the Design Review session and is provided to the proponent to assist with design progression. The design advice will also be provided to the relevant authority for consideration when undertaking their assessment.

If a proponent chooses not to participate in Local Design Review, no design advice will be provided to the proponent or the relevant authority.

The diagram below illustrates how Local Design Review will operate within the context of South Australia's planning process.

Consultation has concluded