Panels are best used at an early stage of the design process. This ensures a design is flexible in responding to comments and observations through the panel process. Alternatively a design should also be developed enough to allow a panel to comment and discuss the concept, approach and details. It is found that panels organised following a validated application are restricted in there design where a panel process can become redundant.

Panels can be requested by the applicant through the website or alternatively a panel can be recommended by the Local Authority. The booking of a panel would be undertaken through the booking system as part of the website.

It is advised that not all planning applications would require a quality review panel. It is recommended that panels are submitted which qualify as either strategic, major or complex schemes.

The below diagram highlights the timescales associated with the booking and delivery of a panel. Key timescales should be considered when programming a planning application: