Exploring innovative approaches to collaboration between private practice, local government, and communities, this session will examine how to create places that are inclusive, sustainable, vibrant, and resilient.

Speakers include Chris King (East Suffolk Council), Charlotte Norman (AREA Landscape Architects) and Richard Eastham (Feria Urbanism). Chaired by Rob Thompson (rtu. Rob Thompson Urbanism).

Speakers will share practical insights into what makes collaboration effective - including tried-and-tested strategies, common pitfalls, and valuable lessons for others looking to do the same.

Rob Thompson Creative Director, Rob Thompson Urbanism  and Executive Committee Member, UDG

Rob is an urban designer and planner with over 30 years’ experience in both the private sector and local government. He is particularly interested in understanding how the built environment shapes our experience of place; and motivated by a desire to create robust, beautiful places that people can build an emotional attachment to.

Rob set up his own practice in 2016, rob thompson urbanism, collaborating on a range of award winning masterplanning, visioning, placemaking and urban design projects across the United Kingdom.

Alongside studio work, Rob is also an Associate Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University and a Demonstrator at Liverpool University.

Rob is Chair of the North East Derbyshire Local Design Panel and Vice Chair of Design Yorkshire Design Panel. He is also a regular Panel Member for both Design Midlands and Places Matter!.

Rob is on the Executive Committee of the Urban Design Group (UDG) and is a UDG Recognised Practitioner. He is also an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism and a Chartered Town Planner.

Chris King East Suffolk Council

Chris King is Design and Specialist Services Manager at East Suffolk Council, leading a multidisciplinary team covering design, heritage, landscape, arboriculture, ecology, and public rights of way. He is the East of England Place Advocate and Chair of Suffolk Design, championing high-quality, people-focused design across the region. A Chartered Landscape Architect and urban designer, Chris spent 10 years in the private sector and the past nine in local government, bringing a broad perspective to raising design quality.

Charlotte Norman AREA Landscape Architects

Charlotte is a chartered landscape architect and strategic landscape planner with over 25 years of experience delivering high-quality, landscape-led solutions across regeneration, planning policy, and strategic infrastructure.

As Director of AREA landscape architects, Charlotte has led the business through significant growth, delivering complex projects such as town centre redevelopments, public realm, podium landscapes, and large-scale LVIA and Green Infrastructure strategies.

Richard Eastham Founding Director, Feria Urbanism

Richard Eastham is the founding director of Feria Urbanism, a respected urban design practice based in Bournemouth. He co-creates neighbourhood plans, design codes and urban design strategies through close collaboration with communities to shape their environments. He has led major projects in Liverpool, Lewes, and Waterlooville, and serves on several design review panels. Named as one of the RTPI’s most inspiring figures, he also teaches at Arts University Bournemouth and the University of Southampton. Originally from Lancashire, Richard studied in Sheffield, Manchester, and Oxford.