Design Review Panel

What is the Design Review Panel (DRP)?

Our DRP is an independent panel of environmental experts. They consult on designs for new development proposals in the borough.

The DRP is key to planning and shaping developments. We recommend schemes are reviewed by the Panel as part of a pre-application process or planning performance agreement.

DRP members do not make planning decisions. They provide supplementary expert advice. This adds to the internal design advice from council officers.

Schemes usually reviewed by the panel

The type of schemes that may be referred to the DRP include:

  • Major or strategic planning applications. (Typically above 10 residential units).
  • Proposals that may significantly affect urban design in Harrow.
  • Proposals which have special significance or interest to a local area.
  • Policies and initiatives with urban design implications.
  • Site-specific master plans, design codes and design guidance.

Review types

We operate three types of review. These are for private developments:

  • Full Panel Review (Panel composed of one chair and three members).
  • Chair’s Review (Panel composed of one chair and one member).
  • Desktop Review (Panel composed of one chair).

Review fees

From 1st April 2023, DRP fees are:

  • Full Panel Review: £5,650.00 (Reduced to £4,237.00 for a follow-up Full Panel Review.)
  • Chair's Review: £2,119.00.
  • Desktop Review: £1,471.00.

Panel Chairs

Richard Cottrell

Richard Cottrell is a co-founder and director of Cottrell and Vermeulen Architecture. They focus on the education and community sectors. They have won awards, including the BD Architect of the Year Gold Award 2016 and the BD Education Architect of the Year 2018.

Richard has delivered several award-winning projects. These include Westborough Primary School, a zero-carbon exemplar, and the Royal London Hospital Children's Play Space.

He has lectured widely on education and liturgical spaces. He sits on Southwark and Lewisham design review panels.

Katy Marks

Katy Marks is an architect. She is the Director of Citizens Design Bureau. She studied at Glasgow School of Art and Cambridge University. She has an MPhil in Environmental Design.

Katy was at Haworth Tompkins Architects. There, she worked on the Stirling Prize-winning Everyman Theatre, the Young Vic, and the National Theatre Studios. In 2013, she founded Citizens Design Bureau. 

Neil Deely

Neil is Co-Founder and Partner of Metropolitan Workshop LLP. It is an architecture and urbanism practice, founded in 2004, with studios in London and Dublin.

He is an expert in designing complex residential, LED, mixed-use projects, master planning, and major public projects. He leads design talks that are open and collaborative. He has a deep interest in the relationship between people and place.

Panel Members

Member Role / Company
Benni Allan Director, EBBA Architects
Pooja Asher Director, Aranya Consulting
Fran Balaam Director, Balaam Murphy
Tom Bell Director, Freehaus
Dinah Bornat Director, ZCD Architects
Noel Cash Associate Director, Henley Halebrown
Emma Elston Senior Architect, Be First
Chris Fellner Director, Haworth Tompkins
Mandy Franz Associate Director, MICA Architects
Michael Gollings Director, Gollings Architects
William Haggard Director, CarverHaggard
Takeshi Hayatsu Director, Hayatsu Architects
Satish Jassal Director, Satish Jassal Architects
Amandeep Kalra Associate Architect, Be First
Anna Kiho Architect, HLM
Chloë Leen Director, Pup Architects
Julian Lewis Director, East
Judith Loësing Director, East 
Euan Macdonald Partner, Hawkins\\\\Brown
Miranda MacLaren Director, Morris + Compan
Fabrizio Matillana Principal Urban Design Officer, LB Islington
Cristina Monteiro Director, DK-CM
Gareth Morris Director, what:if projects
Vinesh Pomal Project Architect, TateHindle
Amir Ramezani Director, Avanti Architects
Sarah Beth Riley Associate Architect, Be First
Seth Rutt Founding Director, Studio Multi
Gurmeet Sian Director, Office Sian
Tszwai So Director, Spheron Architects
Emma Twine Associate, DK-CM