Jo is an experienced Chartered Town Planner and began her career as a planning consultant in 1999.
In that time she has delivered complex planning consents for prestigious projects including Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Her main focus latterly has been the regeneration of cities. She played a pivotal role in the regeneration of Sunderland City Centre, obtaining planning permission consent for several distinguished projects in the Riverside Sunderland Masterplan.
One of those projects was Culture House, a library and world-class visitor attraction for hosting events and exhibitions. Jo also delivered planning consent for 14,275 sqm of new office space in the city, which will create 1,800 private sector jobs. These plans have revitalised the city centre, boosted the economy and created a new beautiful urban quarter for Sunderland.
In Newcastle-upon-Tyne she orchestrated a major urban extension at Quayside West, which when delivered, will create 1,100 new homes, a 135 bedroom hotel and retail spaces. The project will transform a derelict site into a bustling hub for community.
One of Jo’s key areas of expertise is leisure and leisure-led regeneration. She led the development of Berwick leisure centre and Morpeth Leisure and Library hub, which are now state-of-the-art facilities in the North East. Elsewhere, Jo has led the redevelopment of leisure-based hubs in Farnborough, Cranleigh, Knaresborough and Harrogate to name a few.
These leisure schemes transform places for local people. They act as a catalyst for regeneration in towns and cities, as they pave the way for future development for the wider community. Often regeneration begins with a thriving leisure space, which attracts further development for libraries, GP surgeries, and adult learning facilities (for example).
With extensive experience in this area, Jo is familiar with the nuances of these schemes. She understands the finances, the process, the internal approvals process and the clear benefits for communities. That means that her consultations are collaborative and cordial. She pre-empts the questions of consultees and comes prepared to answer any concerns with thorough information.
Clients enjoy working with Jo for her down-to-earth approach. She is perceptive in negotiations and has experience handling a range of contentious issues in a calm and logical way. She is a level-headed project manager, co-ordinating teams of architects, developers, engineers, landscape consultants and others to drive projects forward. Jo is an intelligent, thoughtful planner, who finds ways around problems with careful negotiation and without conflict and aggravation.
Speak to Jo about: leisure-led regeneration projects, mixed-use urban regeneration, residential schemes, and projects in the North East.
