Design in the south west is "unambitious"

From New Start magazine, January 2008:

"South West England needs to become more architecturally ambitious, according to a building design watchdog [the South West Design Review Panel].

It said it too often saw designs that were "stifled by short-sighted market constraints, and by clients and architects listening to those who know what the market is used to rather than what the market might like".

It took to task a development of sheltered homes in Ilfracombe whose original design was "not worth contribution to the townscape" but, after it was changed, local planners wanted to nominate it for an architectural award.