Four new
commissioners have been appointed to the government’s Building Better, Building
Beautiful Commission, it has been confirmed.
Established at the
start of this year, the Commission will advise the government by developing
practical measures to ensure new housing developments meet the needs and
expectations of communities, making them more likely to be welcomed rather than
resisted.
The 4 new
commissioners joining the Chair of the Commission Sir Roger Scruton are:
- Ms Gail Mayhew – a property
consultant with experience in regeneration and place making; Ms Mayhew is
currently advising Urban Catalyst in the regeneration of Purfleet in
Thurrock; she is an advocate of community engagement in the planning
process, assisting groups to change the design of major proposals to
better reflect and fit in with their surroundings
- Ms Mary Parsons – currently
the Chair and a trustee of the Town and Country Planning Association, Ms
Parsons has over 25 years’ experience working in the development and
construction sector and is a Group Director of Places for People;
developments she is presently responsible for include a 10,000 home new
community at Gilston in Hertfordshire, 2 new neighbourhoods on the Olympic
Park and a new urban neighbourhood in Birmingham
- Mr Nicholas Boys Smith – the
founding director of Create Streets, which was set up to promote high
density, beautiful, street-based developments that involve the community;
Mr Boys Smith has also led urban design projects and studies into the
built environment, publishing a number of influential books on the role of
design and architecture
- Mr Kim Wilkie – a renowned
landscape architect and environmental planner, Mr Wilkie has sat on
several bodies advising on design and beauty – including the Mayor of
London’s Public Realm Advisory Group and the Royal Parks Advisory Board;
he also holds an Honorary Fellowship at the Royal Institute of British
Architects and is currently leading the redesign of the Natural History
Museum’s historic grounds.
Experienced
parliamentarian Sir John Hayes MP will also support the Commission, adding
valuable insight from his decades of service as an MP and former government
minister. An additional nine specialist advisors will also assist during the
work.
Communities
Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP said: "This Commission will play a
crucial role in ensuring the homes communities need are built, accepted and
loved by those who live in and near them.
"I’m delighted
Sir Roger is being joined by such a talented team of highly-respected
professionals, along with a list of distinguished advisors who will bring a
wealth of expertise and a range of viewpoints.
Meeting once a
month, the Commission will report back in due course once it has taken evidence
and formulated its recommendations on how the government can improve the
quality of new homes."
