Melbourne Design Review Panel
The Melbourne Design Review Panel is an expert group who provide independent design advice on city-shaping projects. The panel comprises 16 experienced architects, landscape architects and urban designers. A further nine members can be called on to provide technical expertise on topics such as heritage, sustainability and environmental design, development feasibility and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
The panel reviews the design quality of significant development proposals before they are lodged for assessment. The panel’s role is not to redesign proposals but to identify and discuss opportunities to encourage excellent design with the proponent. This process ensures a right of reply from all parties and that the advice is practical and can be implemented.
The benefits of design review include:
- supporting excellent design outcomes
- enabling access to independent and expert design advice early in the planning and design process
- supporting consistent and informed planning decisions
- facilitating positive collaboration between expert designers and developers.
The panel was refreshed in July 2023, retiring 16 panel members and welcoming 10 new members for a two-year term.
To view the current membership of the panel, visit Committees and advisory groups.
Design review
As part of the planning application process for new private developments, city designers work closely with council's statutory planners to support high quality built outcomes to help achieve design excellence.
This design referral process involves critiquing designs, assessing proposals against design guidelines and policies and often times workshopping improved outcomes with applicants, including identifying unique site opportunities with the potential to positively impact how people enjoy the city.
Each year, there are over 200 design referrals involving more than 1,000 touchpoints between council officers and applicant planners and designers.
