A summary of 2021 at Tibbalds

Overall, it has been another successful year, but it has had its ups and downs:

• We were very saddened to hear about the passing of Andy Karski. Andy was a key part of the Tibbalds team, leading on planning for nearly 30 years and originally employing many of those who lead Tibbalds today. He was a highly-respected and well-loved colleague and mentor to many planners both within the Tibbalds team and more widely throughout the profession.
• We also said goodbye to Sue Rowlands and Matt Shillito, two members of our senior management team, with Sue retiring and Matt returning to Canada.

Our team has been working incredibly hard and we are proud of many of the projects we have worked on. Welcome recognition came from the Secretary of State (Robert Jenrick) who highlighted the Bourne Estate in Camden as a model for regeneration schemes across the country.

Other highlights have been:

• Producing Development Frameworks for the Smethwick to Birmingham Corridor; and three regeneration areas in St Peter Port Guernsey. Both projects involved extensive virtual community engagement;
• Our continued work to influence government policy and develop our expertise in design codes and guidance, by producing a Design Code for Hemel Hempstead, one of the NMDC pilots; a Design Guide for Runnymede which was adopted as SPD; and our National Design Guide being selected as finalist for an RTPI Award;
• High commendation of our Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Masterplan at the 2021 Planning Awards as well as proposals for revitalising the Tramshed Theatre in Woolwich gaining unanimous approval, continuing our commitment to improving town centres;
• We submitted several significant planning applications for high-quality homes and provided planning advice for the Belle Vue housing project, Camden, which went on to win an AJ Architecure award; and
• Northstowe Healthy New Town, was a finalist in the Landscape Institute Awards as well as being shortlisted in the 'Award for Planning for Increased Housing Delivery'. Otterpool Park Phase 1 has been another exciting project, supporting the master-developer in the delivery of this new Garden Town.

The Tibbalds team and our projects have featured in a number of articles, including:

• Jane Dann discussing the future of design guides and codes; and why a National Design Code paves the way for better design;
• Lizzie Le Mare discussing the London Plan's design led approach;
• Hilary Satchwell joined the Mayor of London and other Design Advocates in promoting the launch of the Mayor of London design challenge for young Londoners - a project, launched by the GLA and the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education (MOBIE) seeking to support learning and promote built environment careers;
• Katja Stille, Chair of the Urban Design Group, illustrating how Tibbalds are helping to encourage biodiversity and exceed developer's sustainability requirements and sharing her views on how urban design affects our well-being; and
• The Design Council appointing Tibbalds as a Corporate Partner as well as appointing three Experts from our team.

____

This year Tibbalds has made a charitable donation to the Trussell Trust.

The Trussell Trust helps provide emergency food and compassionate and practical support to people locked in poverty to help them resolve the crises that they face.