Panel

  • Dominic Scanlon

    Dominic Scanlon

    MICFor, FArborA, CEnv, ICF

    Aspect Tree Consultancy Ltd

    Dominic has extensive experience in the Planning and Development industry originally as a Local Government Arboricultural Officer, based in planning and urban design teams. He founded Aspect Tree Consultancy in 2008, working as an independent consultant and works for a wide range of clients from national housebuilders, planning consultants and architects from land allocation to detailed layout design stages. He also teaches Arboriculture as well as being an instructor for professional tree Inspectors.

    Housing, Landscape, Strategic Development

  • James Sibson

    James Sibson

    BA (hons), BArch, RIBA, AABC

    FCB Studios

    James is focused upon delivering design solutions developed from an intricate understanding of existing and historic buildings and context. He has worked across the UK on projects ranging from the discreet though to the large-scale redevelopment of urban sites. He seeks to embed a strong philosophy of reuse and to maximise cultural engagement of historic buildings and settings. He is also co-chair of the Heritage Group feeding into the UKNZCBS.

    Climate, Heritage, Strategic Development

  • Claire Smith

    Claire Smith

    BSc, MSt(cantab), CEng, FIStructE, MICE, Hon DEng

    Buro Happold

    Claire is the office director for the 550 strong Bath (founding) office of Buro Happold. She was made a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers in 2016, a Partner at Buro Happold in 2018 and an honorary Doctor of Engineering in 2022. During her time in consultancy, she has worked on a wide variety of new build and refurbishment projects including educational, cultural and leisure buildings with much of her work focused in the South West market, where she is leading Buro Happold’s work in the Temple Quarter Enterprise zone. A strong theme of her work is the desire to produce structures that are expressive of the material properties of which they are constructed. In addition to her role at Buro Happold, Claire is on the South West Council of the Confederation of British Industry, leads the Climate and Nature group for the Future Ambition Board for BANES and sits on the Industrial Liaison Panel at the University of Bath.

    Climate, Heritage, Strategic Development

  • Ben Smith-Laing

    Ben Smith-Laing

    CEng, MEng(hons), MCIHT, CMILT

    Transport Planning, Hydrock

    Ben is a Chartered Engineer with over 20 years of experience in transport consultancy for a broad range of public and private sector clients. He regularly advises on a range of issues from place-making through to technical junction modelling.

    Highways & Transport, Housing, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Ben Stephenson

    Ben Stephenson

    MSc Place Management and Leadership

    BAS Consultancy

    Ben is a place development consultant with a particular interest in inclusive economic development, food, culture, and community engagement. He is a High Streets Task Force Expert and as a senior fellow, was on the development team at the lead delivery body the Institute of Place Management. Ben is Chief Executive of the Angel Islington Business Improvement District and has an MSc in Place Management and Leadership. He has authored national guidance for public bodies conducting reviews and similar work for the Greater London Authority’s Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.

    Inclusive Design, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Tom Sykes

    Tom Sykes

    BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), MArch, DipArch

    Extended Studio

    Tom is an experienced and passionate architect, and a co-founder of Extended Studio, architects for communities. His work is about making great design accessible to everyone - from co-design and community engagement, to the development of places where people thrive together. Alongside his architectural background, Tom has also worked in public sector leadership positions as a client, giving him a valuable and unusual perspective on architecture, urban design and community projects.

    Housing, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Dan Tapscott

    Dan Tapscott

    BSc (Hons) MRICS FPTS

    Rapleys LLP

    Dan is a Chartered Building Surveyor specialising in the field of Neighbourly Matters, which includes Rights to Light, Daylight & Sunlight Amenity, Party Walls and Access Arrangements. Dan is behind multiple developments on our local and national skyline. He founded 'Light Knights' a group raising standards in the Rights to Light & Daylight & Sunlight industry. He is the secretary of the Severnside P&T Society for Party Wall practitioners. He has published numerous articles, and regularly gives seminars on the subject of Neighbourly Matters.

    Density, Housing, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Amanda Taylor

    Amanda Taylor

    BA Hons Dip Arch

    Urban Design Director, Nash Partnership

    Amanda has over thirty years’ experience in planning, design and the built environment. Amanda’s areas of expertise include mixed-use masterplanning for LPA and private clients, extending existing communities and creating new neighbourhoods; through strategic allocation, outline and reserve matters stages, producing design codes. Amanda is a qualified Building with Nature assessor which she imparts into her approach to placemaking and urban design. Previous projects have won Housing Design and RTPI Awards. Amanda has also managed estate regeneration project for Council and RSL clients, and resident and stakeholder engagement projects, including strategies for failing highstreets.

    Density, Housing, People & Place, Strategic Development

  • Rebecca Thurgood

    Rebecca Thurgood

    BA(Hons), DipArch(Dist), RIBA, ARB

    LHC Design

    Rebecca is Associate Director at LHC Design with over 20 years’ experience designing and delivering noteworthy residential, mixed use and community projects in London, the South East and the South West. Her professional practice is focussed on working collaboratively with public and private sector stakeholders to unlock the full potential of challenging sites, and driving up standards in the quality of housing design.

    Density, Housing, Inclusive Growth, People & Place, Strategic Development