Tom Venables

Current post:

Associate Director, AECOM Design Planning

Employment history:

Planner, Atkins, Cardiff, 2003
Senior planner, EDAW, London 2006

Professional qualifications:

BSc and Diploma in City and Regional Planning, Cardiff University, 2003
MRTPI since 2004

Experience and achievements:

Tom Venables is a creative urban planner with a rich variety of project experience gained working on a range of high-profile consultancy commissions across the UK and abroad. He is responsible for project managing multidisciplinary teams focusing upon planning, urban design, masterplanning and regeneration for a number of public and private sector clients.

After graduating from Cardiff University in 2003, Tom stayed in south Wales until 2006 working for Atkins. His early work included a number of community regeneration projects focusing on the south Wales valleys, local development framework evidence base and waterway restoration feasibility studies.

Since joining EDAW/AECOM in 2006, Tom has worked with the London Borough of Barnets planning team on the scrutiny and negotiation of the outline planning application for the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration scheme. He has also advised on a variety of sustainable housing schemes, including the later stages of Greenwich Millennium Village.

He is currently working with the Homes and Communities Agency to develop a masterplan and submit an outline planning application for the next phase of the Upton scheme in Northampton. This has sought to facilitate zero-carbon housing development from the outset of the design process. He is also working on a number of international commissions involving formulation of planning approvals processes for high-profile projects in the Middle East, with a view to ensuring that principles of design quality and sustainability are implemented in accordance with site-wide design guidance and local regulations.

Tom has worked supported a number of local authorities in the production of local development framework documents. This has included advice to Arun District Council on its core strategy and leading the initial stages of an area action plan (AAP) for Peterborough city centre. He is currently advising on the production of AAPs for Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, seeking to encourage economic and housing led regeneration while balancing issues such as flood risk, transport and viability.

Tom is a member of RTPI Londons management board and has been responsible for the overhaul of the regional newsletter London Calling to a more member-focused and contemporary format. This has led to significant cost reductions and attracted corporate sponsorship. He organises a range of events ranging from CPD to networking evenings and has recently led the organisation of a seminar on the future of planning in London. He is becoming increasingly responsible for professional support and mentoring of junior colleagues.

Statement:

I became involved with RTPI London to assist in enhancing the professions image as creative, dynamic and vital. I will endeavour to use the raised profile brought through being Young Planner of the Year to continue these aims and encourage thought and debate amongst my peers. We face unprecedented social, economic and environmental challenges. I believe the planning profession needs to clearly state, both internally and to the wider public, that we are equipped with the skills, knowledge and drive to meet these challenges head on. I will use any speaking, writing and blogging opportunities to promote this message.

Citation:

Tom has been a valued colleague for the past three years. During that time he has developed into a confident and very capable planner who is prepared to push the boundaries of traditional planning and epitomises the new breed of young planners with a passion for real and sustainable change. Tom has shown his ability to tackle a wide range of challenges, from the regeneration of areas of deprivation to the planning of new communities and major developments such as Brent Cross. His radical redesign of the RTPI London branch newsletter and his leading role in branch activities has encouraged the participation of an increasing number of young planners and raised the professions profile. Tom is a great ambassador for planning. He is developing his career as a respected planner in private consultancy while showing an enormous commitment to promoting the profession.

Joanna Chambers, director of regeneration, Broadway Malyan