COUNCILS are being urged to help a Government campaign for better-designed buildings.

Regional development agency One NorthEast, Northern Architecture and the Government's Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe) wants councils to appoint design champions.

The North-East is one of the first regions to pioneer the campaign to improve the design of public sector buildings such as schools and hospitals.

One NorthEast's design champion, Phil Hughes, said: "Design is integral to the social, environmental and economic objectives that local authorities aim to deliver.

"Better-designed schools raise educational standards, better-designed housing improves health and wellbeing, and better-designed public spaces increase economic activity in cities, towns and villages."

One NorthEast is hoping to make design quality a requirement for schemes it funds.

Stephen Stokoe, design services manager at Middlesbrough Council and Cabe's regional representative, said: "Cabe champions the creation of great buildings and public spaces, and we see local authorities as playing a key role in helping achieve this.

"Council design champions do not need to be designers, but they need to be able to influence those working within the authority and beyond."

The campaign will be explained at free events on Thursday, January 29, at the agency's office at Stella House, Newburn Riverside, Newcastle, and on Friday, January 30, at its offices at Cavendish House, Stockton.

To take part, call Andrew Guest on 0191-260 2191.