Rachel Toms

Rachel Toms is a Senior Design Review Advisor for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment – the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space.

CABE seeks to raise the standard of design across the UK through research, design review and good practice guides.

Rachel studied and worked as a landscape architect before joining CABE.

She says: “We’re trying to improve people’s quality of life through the built environment because studies have shown that the quality of the physical environment that you live in, travel through, go to school in, does affect your quality of life and what you may go on to do in life.

“So, when for example in northern cities when big town centre regeneration proposals are put forward, CABE often reviews those proposals and comments on the design quality and identifies any strengths or weaknesses in the proposed design at a time when it’s still possible to make design changes.”

Her work as a landscape architect included business parks, office developments and public realm works associated with affordable housing, including one that was linked to the building of Arsenal FC’s new Emirates Stadium in North London.

"The quality of the physical environment that you live in, travel through, go to school in, does affect your quality of life and what you may go on to do in life. "

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