Directors

Dave Chetwyn MA, MRTPI, IHBC - Chair

Dave Chetwyn is Director of DJC1 Planning Limited and a CABE Enabler. He is also the Chair of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (the UK professional body for heritage specialists) and Vice Chair (Third Sector) of the National Planning Forum. Previous roles include Head of Planning Aid England with the Royal Town Planning Institute and 17 years working in planning in local Government, specialising in design and heritage-led regeneration. Dave has been involved with various Government sounding-boards, stakeholder groups and Parliamentary select committees concerned with built environment matters and community empowerment. He also sits on various design review panels, including UVNS’s own.

 

Michael Howard

Michael Howard is a founder director of Urban Vision. He spent 10 years as news reporter at The Sentinel before joining a Manchester public relations agency. Michael worked there with public sector and regeneration clients for five years before becoming chief press officer at Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2008.

Jon Baldwin

Jon is an experienced town planning and regeneration consultant currently based in London. He was instrumental in securing start-up funding for the creation of Urban Vision when a Strategy Manager for the former North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone. During this 5 year period Jon's Physical Infrastructure programme invested over £25m of regeneration funding in local job creation; heritage and environmental projects. Jon joined Urban Vision as a director in September 2007

Chris Taylor

Chris is an architect with over 40 years experience, founding partner of CTD Architects, and latterly a developer. He was a driving force in the establishment of Urban Vision, and was initially its chair until he became part-time chief executive in 2004, a role he held until the end of 2006. Chris is past president of the RIBA North Staffordshire Branch.

Yaser Mir

Yaser is a senior lecturer at the International School for Communities, Rights and Inclusion at the University of Central Lancashire. Yaser is a member of Home Office Drug Interventions Programme, Race Equality and Diversity Scrutiny Panel, and a Board member of Connections for Development. He has experience of teaching and engaging socially excluded groups.

Fiona Heron

Fiona is an award-winning landscape architect and artist with a strong portfolio of private and public realm work. She grew up in North Staffordshire and retains links with the area. Formerly a Senior Landscape Architect for Nottingham City, she managed a range of city-wide projects. Fiona now has her own Nottingham-based practice, very much involved with sustainable design. She is a member of the Nottingham Design Review Panel and judges for key urban design competitions.

Kim Graham

Kim has a degree in 3-Dimensional Design, an MSc in Local Economic Regeneration, and is a Member of the Institute of Economic Development. Kim was formerly cultural development manager for Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Arts Infrastructure Manager for Liverpool Culture Company, before joining Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council as Principal Regeneration Officer.

Philip Wootton

Phil is an experienced architect and a senior partner in Hulme Upright Manning. He is a past president of the RIBA North Staffordshire Branch and has actively supported the work of Urban Vision from its early days, being a strong advocate of the design review process in particular.

Philip Butters

Philip is Assistant Director for Estates & Development at Keele University and has over 25 years experience in accountancy and financial management, working for the NHS and BT. In his work for Keele University, Phil supports the regeneration of North Staffordshire through Newcastle's Local Strategic Partnership and is committed to the sustainable development of Keele University's estate.

Richard Owen

Richard is a trained solicitor and is based within the commercial litigation department of Grindeys LLP, Stoke-on-Trent. With expertise in commerical litigation and property law, Richard has keen interest in architecture and urban design in North Staffordshire.