Publications and websites

CABE publishes useful guides and advice on design in the built environment. Here is a selection of some of our most relevant publications to prepare you for the school and to further your learning after the event. The first three in the list are particularly important reading material for beginners. Also, you’ll find carefully selected links to all sorts of interesting online material produced by other relevant organisations.

Key publications

The urban design compendium

English Partnerships' urban design compendium has been updated and the new website is a great way to learn more about the fundamentals of urban design with case studies and more. Highly recommended.

The councillor's guide to urban design

The councillor's guide to urban design is an invaluable urban design primer designed for councillors but relevant and accessible for all who want to get an thorough overview of the subject.

By design-urban design in the planning system: towards better practice

By design is the essential guide to urban design and a must read for every delegate.

Creating successful masterplans: a guide for clients

Creating successful masterplans is a step-by-step guide to achieving excellent masterplans. Please note: we will be distributing copies at the event, so you don’t need to print your own.  

Buildings and spaces: why design matters

Buildings and spaces contains some background about why CABE does what it does and why design is so important for improving all our lives. 

Creating successful neighbourhoods

Creating successful neighbourhoods looks at how great neighbourhoods are made and sustained. It shows you how to achieve good design on the ground and how to involve people to get the results and long-term value.  

Design at a glance

Design at a glance is a snappy reference guide for planners, which collates and condenses government design quality guidance.  

Design at appeal

Design at appeal is a no-nonsense guide to ensuring quality design survives and supports the appeal process.  

Design review-ed masterplans: lessons learnt from projects reviewed by CABE's expert design panel

Design review-ed masterplans contains detailed case studies of masterplans that have been reviewed by our design review service. 

Design review-ed town centre retail: lessons learnt from projects reviewed by CABE's expert design panel

Design review-ed town centre retail contains detailed case studies of town centre retail developments that have been reviewed by our design review service. 

Design review-ed urban housing: lessons learnt from projects reviewed by CABE’s expert design panel

Design review-ed urban housing contains detailed case studies of urban housing developments that have been reviewed by our design review service. 

Start with the park: creating sustainable urban green spaces in areas of housing growth and renewal

Getting the green infrastructure right is as vital at the very beginning of any masterplanning exercise. Start with the park is a how-to guide gives you the low-down on getting green spaces right and on how they fit into the development process.

 

Green space strategies

This publication aims to help local authorities to undertake robust assessments of their green space provision, setting out a vision for the whole of its green space and the goals it wants to achieve.

 

Builing for Life

The Building for Life standard is the national benchmark for well-designed housing and neighbourhoods in England. This publication sets out the standard's assessment criteria and how to use them.

 

 

Websites

• The Urban Design Group is the principal membership body for urban designers.
• Prospects is the best site for finding out about postgraduate study in urban design
• The Resource for Urban Design Information (RUDI) contains a wealth of useful case studies, forums and activities.
• Architecture and built environment centres are found throughout England and are an invaluable local resource. Find out about your local centre, their services and events and make contact. Often they are a great way to meet and grow local networks.
• The Urban Land Institute provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.
• ASC is the national centre for delivering the skills & knowledge needed to make better places.
• The Sustainable Development Commission is the government's independent advisory body on sustainable development.
• The design quality indicator (DQI™) is a pioneering process for evaluating design quality of buildings; it can be used by everyone involved the development process to contribute to improving the quality of our built environment.
• Urban Design London (UDL) is a network organisation set up to help promote good urban design in London.