Integreat Yorkshire and Yorkshire Forward launched the new Regional Design Review Service on Monday 18 January 2010, at the Hospitium, Museum Road, York.

The Regional Design Review Service will provide free, independent advice on major development schemes and strategies that will have a significant impact on the region’s towns and cities in terms of their ability to attract investment and to stabilize and grow their economies.

Speaking at the event, Jan Anderson, Executive Director of Environment at Yorkshire Forward said “Good design makes good economic sense, and well-designed places tend to be more successful economically and socially. In these challenging economic times Yorkshire Forward believes that supporting the new Regional Design Review Service puts the region one step ahead in preparation for is an upturn."

The first panel meeting of the Regional Design Review Service will be held on the 24th February 2010 in York, and meetings will then be held monthly.

Irena Bauman, a founding Director of Bauman Lyons Architects based in Leeds, has been appointed as Yorkshire and the Humber’s first Regional Design Review Service Chair. Two vice-chairs have also been appointed - Tom Lonsdale, freelance enabler and a member of a significant number of design review panels, and Tony Wyatt, Associate Director of space Architecture and former Urban Design Group Manager at Newcastle City Council.

Irena, Tom and Tony head up a particularly strong team of panel members, drawn from professions including architecture, landscape architecture and planning who will put Yorkshire and Humber at the forefront of the design agenda.

Irena Bauman said “‘I am delighted with the appointment and look forward to working with the panel to raise the design aspirations in all places large or small throughout the Region. Yorkshire is beautiful, green and distinctive. And this is what we will look for in the new developments.’"

Richard Motley, Programme Director of Integreat Yorkshire said “We are honoured to have secured Irena as Chair. She brings great skill, authority and credibility to our service, and a passion for making great places in Yorkshire. She will be supported by an impressive duo of vice-chairs, and these appointments give us great reassurance for the success of the service”

Click here for more information.