May 15 2007
Following a highly successful pilot period and increasing demand for its services, the Advisory Team for Large Applications (ATLAS) has just completed a significant expansion programme. This means that the team can now offer increased capacity and expertise to local authorities, in helping to unlock complex planning applications.
ATLAS, run by national regeneration agency English Partnerships, now operates in four Government office regions – East, London, South East and South West. It has also widened its skills set with the appointment of eleven specialists in transportation, engineering, environmental sustainability, urban design and socio-economics, together with dedicated staff to progress its research and dissemination activities.
The team is currently working on 30 projects with the potential to unlock in excess of 60,000 new homes and associated mixed use across its area of operation. Projects include all types of major development including greenfield urban extensions, town centre and area regeneration, estate renewal and a new settlement. With the expertise of the recent appointments to the team, local authorities will see added value to the service they receive from the team to progress these complex applications.
Simon Leask, Head of ATLAS, says, “Our interesting and challenging workload has been instrumental in attracting high calibre staff with a broad range of skills and experience from both the public and private sectors. We are now able to offer a comprehensive range of advice and assistance to an increasing number of authorities who want to draw upon our skills.”
ATLAS is subject to regular independent evaluation and this has been critical in establishing that the team is adding significant value in a range of areas including improved project management and the quality of outcomes. Positive feedback from local authorities, the private sector and statutory agencies have all been instrumental in the Government’s decision to expand the team.
In the South East Office in Ashford, Kelvin Hinton has joined as Senior Planning Manager from Sevenoaks District Council where he was Head of Development Services. Julia Wallace has also joined as Planning Manager from Kent County Council where she was Design & Regeneration Officer.
In the South West office in Bristol, Ian White has joined as Senior Planning Manager from Bristol City Council where he was Central Area Planning Services Manager. Paul Brockway has also joined as Planning Manager from White Young Green where he was an Associate Director.
In the Milton Keynes office, Robert Smith has joined as Senior Planning Manager from EDAW where he was a Director of Planning. Abigaile Bromfield, has been promoted to Senior Planning Manager. Robert Dobson Oswald has also joined the team as administrator.
Karl Fitzgerald has joined as Consultant Engineer from English Partnerships’ National Consultancy Unit, Michael Stott has joined as Consultant Urban Designer, previously he was working freelance, Paul Evans has joined as Research Manager from the Building Research Establishment where he was an Associate Director, and Tim Chapman has joined as Sustainable Communities Consultant from the Healthy Urban Development Unit [HUDU] where he was Deputy Head of Unit.