Our team

James Brown

Director
BA (Hons) Town & Country Planning, Bachelor of Planning, PG Cert Urban Environmental Design MRTPI, Member of Urban Design Group
James Brown

James is passionate about providing solutions that enhance the character of places and the lives of the people who live there. He has vast experience of leading teams within both the public and private sector, and in the Spring of 2011 became a Director of the Urbanists.

James provides our clients with innovative solutions that open up opportunities and provide value. He specialises in regeneration and public realm design, and utilises his particular expertise in town centre regeneration to create vibrant, multi-purpose town centre streets and civic spaces. James is passionate about consultation and has vast experience of managing effective community engagement strategies.

Key experience

  • Project managing regeneration strategies
  • Organising and facilitating effective community involvement
  • Public realm design and movement led placemaking

What do you think makes a successful place 'work'?

Successful places work because people want to be there. Anywhere with an economic or a social reason for use which also has pleasing spatial characteristics will always thrive.

What is favourite place & why:

Manchester's Northern Quarter – the place drips with unbridled energy and confidence. I feel revitalised when I've been there.

What interests you outside of work?

I love travelling. It provides inspiration for my work, challenges preconceived ideas and refreshes my perspective on life in general - although my wife does think I'm a bit sad for taking pictures of pavements while on holiday.

What activities to you most want to undertake in the next ten years?

Recent hiking in the Alps has inspired me to take on some more challenging and technical terrain. I'd like to summit Mon Blanc. I'd also like to improve on my standard of surfing and become more consistent at it.