The head of the design watchdog CABE has used its annual report to hit out at large housebuilders and government delivery bodies.

Richard Simmons, the chief executive, said design quality needed to improve drastically for schools and houses.

He said: “It seems the role of design champion is becoming even more critical as big organisations become more risk-averse.

“Our schools and housing audits show how much poor design still gets planning permission – evidence that the design champion is not being listened to.”

CABE’s report points out that six of the 11 volume housebuilders had a design champion in place.

These companies are: Redrow, Taylor Woodrow, David Wilson Homes, Crest Nicholson, Barratt and Berkeley Group.

A CABE audit earlier this year found that 19% of secondary school design was rated good or excellent and 6% of new housing qualified as good or very good.

CABE’s annual report CABE Works. Here’s How is published this week.

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