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The Creating Excellence Interview - Mark Pearson
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Who: Mark Pearson Task: Design Action Manager Devon and Cornwall
Mark Pearson heads up a project by CABE - the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment - to promote action for better design in Devon and Cornwall. CABE is funded by two government departments: DCMS and ODPM. The project's aim is to advance CABE's national remit in the two counties, to 'inspire people to demand more from their buildings and spaces'
What's your job?
I'm managing the Devon and Cornwall part of three pilots set up by CABE in areas that were seen as peripheral and difficult to reach. The others are in East Lancashire where there's lots of housing market renewal and the east of England in partnership with the RDA there. CABE usually reaches out through a network of regional representatives and partner organisations. These pilots are testing the impact of bespoke programmes with an officer based in a sub-region
Where are you based?
My office is in Cornwall, with the Camborne Pool Redruth urban regeneration company. But I also have space in the RDA offices in Exeter and also at Plymouth, which we see as a regeneration hot spot
How long will the project last?
The programme is for two years from May 2004 to April 2006
How many of you are there?
It's just me, but I have the back up of the whole CABE network and support systems
What targets have you been set?
'I haven't been set any specific targets. I'm setting my own in consultation with an advisory panel. So far they are:
None of this is rocket science - I guess many members of the public might expect these things are happening already. The problem is they're not - but they soon will be
'I haven't been set any specific targets. I'm setting my own in consultation with an advisory panel. So far they are:
- get every local authority to appoint a design champion
- ensure the sub-region has access to good advice from design review and advisory panels.
- ensure training on design is available to all involved in the development control process
- deliver a range of stimulating events connecting design with wider issues and achieving high levels of satisfaction amongst those attending
- improve the profile of the built environment within mainstream education - getting schools to sign up to the CABE education network and share their resources
None of this is rocket science - I guess many members of the public might expect these things are happening already. The problem is they're not - but they soon will be
What do you aim to do?
There are three elements to the programme, not of equal size:
- I'll be a point of contact and co-ordination in the area for information, support and advice from the headquarters office of CABE
- I'm producing a design action programme, to connect CABE thinking with all sectors in the regeneration movement
- I hope to leave behind structures, a legacy, that will continue to promote knowledge of good design principles and good practice information in Devon and Cornwall. This is likely to involve the creation of an independent architecture and built environment centre. We're commissioning a feasibility study to see what would work best here - it's unlikely to be a substantial new building, more likely a network and programme of activity with a small administrative base.
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