The Bristol Urban Design Forum (BUDF) is a group of design and environment professionals who offer free, independent consultation on significant development proposals in the city, leading to recommendations for improvement and added value. BUDF also advises Bristol City Council on urban design policy.
Established by Bristol City Council in 2007 and managed by The Architecture Centre Bristol, the BUDF operates as an independent body and follows the model of design review panels promoted by Design Council CABE.
Developers may ask for a review or BUDF may invite a developer to submit a scheme for review. Review comments are made public on the BUDF website.
BUDF does not work with community groups when carrying out a review. However, groups can contact the BUDF with their particular issues when a development in their area is under consideration. The agenda for the meetings is sent to the NPN administrator who alerts the relevant groups. It is also put on the website a week before the meeting.
In one case, the BUDF review was carried out with the inclusion of the local planning group, Lockleaze Voice Neighbourhood Planning Forum. The group was encouraged to talk to the panel and the developers about their issues before the BUDF review panel meeting, which was then held in the presence of the group, though the group were not participants in that section of the meeting.