CABE lays out plans for public investment that will help to shape the future

CABE’s corporate strategy, Shape the Future, describes how the organisation’s plans and priorities over the next demanding three years will help to support public investment in homes, schools, open space and public building.

For the first time, CABE has set out the thinking behind its corporate strategy, in Good design: the fundamentals. This publication looks at why design matters, the best way to achieve it, as well as setting out why architecture and urban design are such important cultural assets. It also tackles some of the lame excuses often given for poor designs.

The essay sets out the thinking behind Shape the future, CABE’s strategy for 2008/09- 2010/11. It will be of interest to architects, designers, clients and to government – and everyone else working with CABE and its agenda for promoting good design. Good design: the fundamentals. This describes why architecture and urban design are such important cultural assets, and challenges some of the myths which are used to excuse poor design. Investment in public building in a recession creates jobs and minimises hardship, but that investment must create high quality, low carbon buildings and places in order to generate value for decades to come.

CABE wants to see a rapid increase in the quality of private and affordable housing. The strategy therefore aims for every major public housing programme to specify high quality design, and for the majority of local authorities to be committed to using Building for Life as a way of assessing quality.

School design should deliver the best quality learning environment, and CABE expects a year on year increase in the number of schools rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ by its schools design panel. That panel is advising every local authority receiving funding through the Building Schools for the Future programme.

CABE’s strategy for improving design quality through review of significant development will require every region to have a design review panel or sub-regional arrangement by 2011.

A major programme to support local authorities with the sustainable design and management of their built environment. Sustainable Cities, will launch on 5 March 2009.

Public spaces need to be improved nationwide, and this requires more people equipped to manage them. CABE Space will be tackling the serious skills gap in the green space sector which is affecting delivery in two thirds of local authorities.