Regional Activities Policy Committee

Jan has significant experience of examining (former Examining Inspector PINS) and advising on a wide range of nationally significant infrastructure and major development projects across the full range of sectors including new settlements and urban extensions, energy, water and waste water, transport, business and commercial, ports and airports dealing with a wide range of issues from development consent orders, strategic plans, EIA, biodiversity, design, Water Framework Regulations, Habitats Regulations Assessment, community engagement and compulsory purchase. Jan has been recognised as one of ‘the most influential women in UK planning’. She is Board Chair of the National Infrastructure Planning Association.

Jan is a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute (FRTPI) and currently sits as Vice Chair of the RTPI English Policy Panel. She is also on the Partnership Accreditation Board for Glasgow University and continues to be engaged with Planning Aid.

Emma is a Chartered Planner at Lichfields, having joined in 2019 following the completion of her studies at St Andrews University and the University of Glasgow where she obtained a Master’s degree in City Planning and Real Estate Development. Emma’s primary focus is in the residential sector, but her experience covers a wide variety of projects including leisure, regeneration, and commercial. Emma is currently the Vice Chair of the RTPI North East Young Planner’s Committee and a member of the RTPI NE Regional Activities and Policies Committee.

Colin Haylock is a Newcastle based architect-planner with over 40 years’ experience. He now provides consultancy services primarily in heritage and other sensitive environments. He led a multi-disciplinary Environmental Design Team for Newcastle City Council for over ten years with work ranging from Grainger Town to Newcastle Great Park and the East Quayside redevelopment. He was RTPI President in 2012 and since 2000 has been heavily involved in national work on planning and design through CABE and the Design Council. He is a Visiting Professor and Lecturer at UCL, a Member of Historic England’s Expert Advisory group, a High Streets Task Force Expert, a Member of the Design Review Panels for the North East and Yorkshire and of the Fabric Committee for Durham Cathedral. He has had recent past roles with Newcastle University, the London Mayor’s Design Advisory Group and the Planning Committee for the Old Oak and Park Royal Mayoral Development Corporation.

Dave is the current representative for the North East Region. He is a Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University and as well as co-ordinating planning aid work is keen to draw connections between advocacy, policy work and the community and voluntary sectors.

Emily has been a member of the North East Young Planners Committee since December 2018, and is the former Committee Chair for 2022. Emily joined Lichfields in September 2018 and now works as a Senior Planner in their Newcastle office.  During her time at Lichfields, Emily has been involved in a variety of projects throughout the North East, including commercial, infrastructure, retail and leisure schemes. Emily is also a Chartered member of the RTPI.”

Timothy Crawshaw MA MRTPI FRSA is the Immediate Past President of the Royal Town Planning Institute, working as an International Planning and Development Consultant in the areas of urban design, planning, green infrastructure, energy efficiency and sustainable transport. With experience in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East, alongside an expanding UK practice, he has a specific interest in the role of the nature based approaches to addressing the climate emergency, alongside improving health and wellbeing outcomes and tackling inequality.

Timothy is an experienced lecturer, trainer and facilitator with a passion for community development, and he continues to champion the role of planning as a key part of the solution to the challenges of our times. Timothy is currently the Chair of the Tees Valley Nature Partnership and Chair of the Historic Towns and Villages Forum.

Bart is a Chartered Town Planner and has worked as Head of Planning at Richmondshire Council for four years. He has worked in planning since 1999 having started at Gateshead Council progressing to Northumberland County Council as Major Developments and Delivery Manager. Bart has worked across several authorities in the north east as well as a stint in the private sector, representing house builders and commercial operators. As Head of Planning for Richmondshire he has overall responsibility for strategic plan policy making, development management, affordable housing, enforcement, climate change and heritage functions.  

Andrew has an Honours Degree and Diploma in Town Planning from Newcastle University.  He was elected to membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 1996.

Andrew has worked at Ward Hadaway since April 1999. In November 2020 I was promoted to Director (Chartered Town Planner).

Andrew specialise in planning matters and undertake a range of development management and planning policy work for clients including commercial developers, housebuilders, estates, the public sector and for private individuals.  I also provide support work to colleagues in the Practice.

He has appeared as an expert witness on many occasions including at planning and enforcement hearings and inquires, in development plan inquires / examinations in public and in the magistrates court.

Ifeanyi joined the Planning Inspectorate in 2019 as an Appeals Planning Officer and is currently on secondment to the Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities as a Senior Planning Technical Officer. Prior to this, he worked with the Marine Management Organisation and Defra. His experience includes Marine Planning and Marine Licensing, Environmental Project Management, Planning Appeals, Habitats Regulation and Environmental Impact Assessment.  Prior to his time in UK he also worked in Nigeria and experience includes Urban Design, Development Control and Higher Education (teaching Town Planning Courses).

Robert is currently a BA Urban Planning student at Newcastle University's School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. Robert is passionate about urban land use, transport planning and regeneration, in particular how policy and plan making can encourage the flourishing of sustainable and attractive urban spaces. He is also interested in property development and how communities can integrate and welcome development that aids their needs, while also providing for new populations. Being a student member of the RTPI, Robert is looking forward to engaging in regional outreach activities and neighbourhood planning projects, alongside pursuing a career in planning and real estate development.

Lucy is currently an Urban Planning MSc student at Newcastle University. She graduated from Durham University in 2022 with a degree in BA Geography. Lucy has completed work experience in both the public and private planning sector. She has a keen interest in heritage and regeneration, and is looking forward to a career in planning and being able to work on a variety of projects. Lucy hopes to be actively involved with the RTPI as a student member and will start working to achieve RTPI chartered membership upon completion of her Master's degree.

Henry Cumbers is a policy planner currently working in the Newcastle office at Historic England. He has recently started a 12-month secondment working on national planning strategy responding to and helping influence planning and heritage reform, but prior to this worked extensively on supporting the integration of the historic environment within local plans across the north. Previous experience has included working for local authorities including Sunderland, Craven and Lancaster primarily in strategic planning but also development management and regeneration. Henry graduated from Newcastle University in 2005 in Town & Country Planning and received a postgraduate diploma in 2007.

Usman is currently an MPLAN Master of Planning student at Newcastle University. He is looking forward to gaining new skills, new connections and the opportunity to learn more about the planning industry. Usman is really interested in Real estate development and how land is utilised for multiple purposes. Asman have previous experience of working within the real estate industry through internships and full-time employment and I hope to gain new experiences during my degree.  He is currently a student member of the RTPI and hope to actively be involved in activities, events and new training opportunities

Usman is looking forward to continuing his journey with the RTPI and advancing his career within the Planning industry. He also hope to achieve chartered membership and start his career in the Real estate and planning sector.

I currently work as a Graduate Transport Planner for Mott MacDonald, of which I have been working for since 2022. I completed my Masters of Planning degree at Newcastle university in 2022, having completed a year in industry at Capita in the development management team at North Tyneside Council, to gain my Certificate of Planning Practice. I have a wide depth of knowledge within planning applications, after my year in industry and since joining the transport planning industry have been a part of some notable projects across the country, taking a specialised interest in active travel schemes, having worked on some in Leeds and Newcastle.

I have been a student member of the RTPI since 2018 and a Licentiate since 2022, joining the North East Planners Committee in May 2023. I aim to complete and gain my MRTPI accreditation and take a larger role in the north eastern RTPI group.