CABE evaluated 101 children's centres from the first phase to see how well they performed as buildings and what lessons could be learned for future capital build programmes. The report said, 'On the whole, the centres are fit for purpose.'
Seventy-eight out of 100 centres were rated good to excellent overall by staff, parents, management and members of the public.
However, the design professionals who carried out the evaluations considered the design of very few to rank as good or excellent.
The research was commissioned by the DCSF from CABE, the Government adviser on architecture, urban design and public space.
It highlights the constraints of the two-year funding cycle as being too short for the capital building programme, because it limited opportunities to carry out feasibility studies and acquire the best sites for centres and often prevented proper consultation with parents, staff and the wider community.
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