Cambridge planning boss sets up 'Smart Cities' consultancy
Cambridge City Council director of environment Simon Payne has left the authority to set up a new consultancy specialising in planning for 'Smart Cities'.
Payne, who spent the last 11 years as a director at the council, decided to take advantage of a management restructure to set up on his own firm.
The first contract for the new firm – Lambsquay Consulting – is a project managing a 'Smart Cities' project in Heidelberg, Germany.
Payne told Planning: "I have been 41 years in local government, and the council’s restructuring gave me a chance to move into this area that I am passionate about.”
He said that the new venture would give him a chance to explore the effect of new technology on spatial planning.
He said: “I am very interested in what effect technology will have over the next 30 years on the way people live.
“I hope that by focusing mainly on municipal authorities I can help some of the thinking around the challenges that will present themselves.”
Before joining Cambridge, Payne spent 16 years at Stratford-Upon-Avon District Council, ending up as head of planning.
Prior to that, he worked at Birmingham City Council as principle planning officer, working on implementing compulsory purchase orders.
He has a postgraduate diploma in town planning from the former Birmingham Polytechnic and became a chartered planner in 1983.
Has your organisation recently made a new appointment or promotion? If so, please let us know by emailing planning@haymarket.com