CABE has now become Design Council Cabe, a part of the Design Council
History 1999 to 2011
We provide expert independent design advice to improve the quality of what gets built in England. For over 80 years, UK governments of all persuasions have believed that it is essential to get independent advice on proposals for significant new buildings and spaces.
The Royal Fine Art Commission was established in 1924, and so influenced the quality of much of the public design and architecture of the 20th century. Many weak designs have mercifully stayed on the drawing board as a result of its reviews, and what has been built is better than it would otherwise have been.
Since CABE replaced the RFAC in 1999, we have continued to provide that independent design advice. We have already reviewed more than 3,000 proposals for major developments.
But CABE also has a wider role to champion and lead the public and professional debate about how to create great places.
Although CABE is a national body, almost everything we do is local. We work on behalf of the public and we want to inspire public demand for good design, helping people to shape the look and feel of places where they live and learn. . We have built a large, strong network of local design advisers, all leaders in their professions – architects, planners, engineers, landscape architects, urban designers and surveyors. Across the country we give advice that is specific to each place.