wing an agreement reached by the two bodies and government. The new organisation will work under the Design Council name.

The new organisation will speak with one voice to support a broad spectrum of design, architecture and public space. It will be government’s advisor on design in business innovation and the built environment.

It will provide a ‘one stop shop’ for design support and advice to industry, communities, central and local government encompassing a range of services already provided by both the Design Council and CABE.

The organisation will have a particular focus on achieving good design at a local level. The chair of CABE, Paul Finch, says it will place architecture ‘at the heart of the economy as a driver for competitive businesses and places’.

CABE’s design review service, which provides expert advice to councils, developers and communities through reviews of major proposed projects, will continue at a national and local level. Promotion of the value of good building and spatial design to businesses and communities will continue. There will be a strong focus on securing good design in neighbourhood planning.