This webinar is ideal for:

• Local Council Clerks, RFOs & Councillors

For many in local government, looking at a new bundle of planning drawings can feel like a minefield of confusing blueprints, technical scale bars, and architectural jargon. Join Tom Sykes, Architect, Client Advisor and Founder of Common Works—an architecture practice supporting public sector clients and community groups in creating places that bring people together—in this practical session as he unpacks how to read a planning application and identify good vs bad designs.

Having previously served as Head of Design for Transport for London and as an Expert for the Design Council, Tom understands that behind every technical drawing is a real community impact, and he’s here to show you how to look past the paperwork to spot and confidently challenge bad design.

You will discover:

• The basics of reading plans and drawings: Simple, jargon-free ways to look at architectural blueprints without getting a headache.
• What "good design" looks like on paper: How to visualise a flat drawing in the real world and judge whether a building will actually fit in with your local area.
• How to spot the bad stuff: What warning signs to look out for in the drawings that indicate bad design.
• Pushing back on design grounds: How to confidently challenge poor design and frame your objections around the look, scale, and functionality of the building.
• The real value of good design: Why fighting for better quality matters, and how great design brings value to your local community.