Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) is establishing a Design Excellence Panel to ensure all future transport infrastructure projects meet the highest standards of design, accessibility and sustainability.
The panel will act as an independent advisory body, providing expert guidance to project teams throughout the development lifecycle of schemes across the region’s rail, bus, tram and active travel networks. The initiative reflects TfWM’s commitment to embedding design thinking from the earliest stages of project development.
Operating initially under a three-year programme, the panel will support delivery of TfWM’s Local Transport Plan and its six Big Moves strategy, ensuring all schemes are not only functional but also inclusive and relevant to their surroundings.
The panel will be made up of around twenty members drawn from professional backgrounds such as architecture, landscape architecture, inclusive design, heritage and conservation, urban planning, civil and structural engineering, public health, sustainability, access consultancy, place curation and the arts.
All members must either live in the West Midlands or have demonstrable recent experience working in the region to ensure a strong understanding of local context and community needs.
Workshops will be held bi-monthly, with flexibility to increase frequency based on project demand. Site visits will be arranged as needed to support what TfWM describes as a “no site boundary” approach, encouraging consideration of wider spatial and social context beyond immediate project sites.
The panel will promote a co-design approach, encouraging collaboration across disciplines and with communities to create transport infrastructure that is accessible, safe, welcoming and inclusive for all users.
Its remit includes providing design assurance aligned with TfWM’s strategic goals, supporting the development of design guides, promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration and contributing to post-occupancy evaluations for continuous improvement.
However, the panel’s role will remain advisory rather than executive. It will not override statutory or technical standards, make decisions on budgets or procurement, or have the power to enforce its recommendations. Instead, it will function as what TfWM describes as a “critical friend” to project teams, offering independent expert advice to enhance design quality.
Periodic reviews will be conducted to ensure the panel’s continued relevance and impact as the West Midlands develops its transport infrastructure for future generations.
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