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More than 40 planners among new experts at Design Council

Written by: Ellie Kahn
Published on: 27 Apr 2021

Maggie Baddeley and Michael Chang

Margaret Baddeley and Michael Chang (Pic: Design Council)

Design Council, the charity that advises the government on built environment design issues, has announced that over 40 town planners will be part of its new network of experts.

The organisation has just revealed that it has updated its expert network.

According to Design Council, there are over 400 built and natural environment experts within the revised network, including business leaders from various professions.

According to Design Council, ambassadors are appointed to “recognise and honour their excellence in practice” and “act as champions for the sector”. Meanwhile, associates have “overarching expertise” which is considered to be “integral” to the delivery of its projects. Specialists have focused skills and expertise, according to Design Council.

The town planners joining the network as ambassadors are:

  • Dr Helen Pineo, UCL
  • Tim Stonor, Space Syntax


Town planners joining as associates include:

  • Arthur Acheson
  • Margaret Baddeley
  • Robin Buckle
  • Michael Chang, Public Health England
  • Ming Cheng, Place Profile
  • Dave Chetwyn, Urban Vision Enterprise CIC
  • Garry Colligan, Think Place (UK) 
  • Richard Crutchley, Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design
  • Jane Dann, Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design
  • Frances Fernandes, The Planning Inspectorate
  • Sarah Foster, Coverland UK
  • Julie Greer, Greer Pritchard Planning Consultancy
  • Liane Hartley, Mend
  • Michael Hayes CBE, Michael Hayes Consulting
  • Colin Haylock, Haylock Planning and Design
  • David Jones, Evans Jones
  • Matt Lally, Arup
  • Nigel McDowell
  • Valerie Owen, Le Vaillant Owen Consultancy
  • Miles Price, British Land
  • Vaughan Thompson, Place Studio
  • Dr Deb Upadhyaya
  • Charles Wagner, Charles Wagner Heritage & Planning
  • Dr Helen Walker, University of Brighton

Town planners joining as specialists include:

  • Kristin Agnello, Plassurban
  • Prof Samer Bagaeen, University of Kent
  • Jacqueline Bennett, belap (Bennett Leisure & Planning)
  • Dorian Crone, Heritage Information
  • Steph Everett, Homes England
  • Vincent Goodstadt
  • Silvia Gullino, Birmingham City University
  • Ian Phillips, South Downs National Park Authority
  • Dr Meredith Whitten

Corporate partners include:

  • London Borough of Croydon’s ‘Croydon Placemaking’ and ‘Spatial Planning Service’
  • Public Practice, a social enterprise aiming to improve the quality of places Planning consultancy Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design

Other built environment professionals who work in planning appointed as ambassadors:

  • Sowmya Parthasarathy, Arup

Other built environment professionals who work in planning appointed as associates:

  • Paul Bragman, Community & Economic Regeneration Consultants
  • Rachna Lévêque, South Cambridgeshire District Council
  • Peter Maxwell, London Legacy Development Corporation
  • Dr Hatem Nabih, Provision (PV Projects)
  • Christopher Martin, Urban Movement
  • Emily Walsh, Systra

Design Council said that over the coming months, new experts will join as associates and ambassadors to share ideas and develop opportunities to collaborate across the UK.