Northern Beaches Council is looking to appoint members to a new Design and Sustainability Advisory Panel.

Appointed members would provide high level independent expert advice on urban design, architecture, landscape architecture and sustainability for significant applications and planning proposals.

Mayor Michael Regan said Council was establishing a Design and Sustainability Advisory Panel to improve the design quality of buildings in the area.

“The Panel will support a ‘design excellence’ system that ensures buildings and the public domain are well designed,” Mayor Regan said.

“It will see a process put in place to advise on the design of developments prior to the application being submitted and then review the development application during the assessment phase, to achieve design excellence as an outcome.”

The new Panel will review SEPP 65 applications, other residential developments such as multi-unit housing, boarding houses, seniors living houses as well as large commercial and industrial applications.

Council is currently seeking expressions of interest from recognised leaders in the design profession. Members will be appointed to the Panel based on their demonstrated experience and knowledge of urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, sustainability, SEPP 65, the Apartment Design Guide and demonstrated experience positively working within a panel environment.

Expressions of interest close on Monday 15 June, with panel members anticipated to be appointed by July with the first meeting to be held soon after.