Specialisms
I specialise in the following areas:
- Economic Regeneration
- Housing
John is a highly experienced freelance consultant and is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading urban regeneration experts.
He supports councils, combined authorities, housing associations, and private sector clients to design and deliver innovative, award‑winning regeneration programmes. John began his career in the civil service in 2000 and transitioned into consultancy in 2006.
His career history includes:
- Founding Director, Hope Street Strategy Company
- Senior Investment Specialist, Department for International Trade
- Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government
- Associate Consultant, Metro‑Dynamics, PPL, Social Engine, Renaisi, Locality, and BBP Regeneration
- Interim Head of Services (London and the South), Locality
- Local Improvement Advisor, Local Government Association
- Research Associate, Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion, London School of Economics
Key Strengths
- Regeneration
- Economic development
- Placemaking
- Housing
- Neighbourhoods
- Strategy development
- Bid writing
- Deal making
- Scenario planning
- Option appraisal
- Business cases
- Evaluation
Notable Achievements/Value Added
- Supported clients to raise over £1bn in public and private investment in regeneration, infrastructure, and growth projects.
- Led teams across multiple consultancies to shape and sell products and services in the regeneration, economic development, and place-shaping markets.
- Re-designed the UK’s government’s post-Brexit strategy for attracting inward investment in growth and regeneration project.
- Designed and developed award-winning and sector-leading regeneration interventions across the country.
- Instigated and led multiple change programmes including merging national funding streams into a £42m investment pot.
Relevant Sector Knowledge
Recent projects displaying relevant sector include:
Suffolk County Council, Ipswich Borough Council, University of Suffolk – Worked with the councils and university to develop an initial short list and then a preferred development option for a parcel of land on Ipswich waterfront.
Colchester City Council – Worked with the city partnership to develop the city’s successful Town Deal bid.
Fenland District Council – Supported the district council and town teams to develop socio-economic profiles that formed the basis of bids to the Combined Authority.
Harlow and Gilston Garden Town – Undertook a review of the Garden Town’s delivery capability, and make recommendations to streamline housing and infrastructure delivery.
Oxford County Council / Oxford City Council – Worked with a wide range of sectors and partners to develop a long-term investment prospectus for Oxfordshire aimed at national and international investors.