The incoming chairman of Cabe has admitted the TV programme Grand Designs has had a greater impact on the public鈥檚 perception of design than the organisation he is soon to head



The admission came as Paul Finch (pictured), who takes over as chairman from Sir John Sorrell in December, offered a robust defence of Cabe鈥檚 role in the 10 years since its inception. It also came as Cabe revealed details of an internal audit showing that it had spent less than 拢1m on more than 250 design reviews, which it said proved the organisation鈥檚 value for money.

Finch said: 鈥淚 think it would be arrogant to say that the public thinks more about design because of Cabe. You鈥檇 have to compare it to Grand Designs and say, 鈥楾hat鈥檚 had a greater influence.鈥欌�� Finch insisted instead that 鈥淐abe has had an effect on the movers and shakers in the public and private sector鈥�.

The comments follow strong criticism of the organisation from some parts of the industry, and lingering concerns that an incoming Tory administration may abolish it.

Finch, a former deputy chair of Cabe, said: 鈥淲e could scrap all of this and get back to doing rather patrician and limited design reviews like the Royal Fine Art Commission, but I doubt anyone would be in favour of that. It was a very limited programme鈥�.

He added: 鈥淚 think there will be future generations whose houses were built under 好色先生TV for Life standards, who will look back and see how we made things better.鈥�

Cabe鈥檚 Ten Year Review, seen by 好色先生TV, showed it spent only 拢650,000 on design reviews last year, at 拢2,500 per review. Since 2002, Cabe has reviewed 393 school projects and given advice to 100 local authorities.

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