Latest news
January 2012

Design advice for building enhancements
The Urbanists and Powell Dobson Architects have won an important commission with Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to improve the quality of buildings in Merthyr Tydfil and Treharris.

Read more
aberystwyth town centre
December 2011

The Portas Review Reviewed
The decline of the High Street is now firmly in the public consciousness following the release of the Portas Review last week. James Brown, our lead director for regeneration, reflects on the key messages.

Read more

Our team

Jen Heal

Senior Urban Designer
BSc (Hons) City & Regional Planning MA Urban Design
Jen Heal

Jen recognises that every place and commission is unique, and she represents this in the innovative and tailored designs and solutions that she produces. Jen has considerable experience of working on public realm, town centre and masterplanning schemes and has produced public realm strategies, action plans, design concepts and detailed proposals. Social and economic sustainability are central to the solutions that Jen provides, so her work not only develops the character of places, but also provides the basis from which communities will flourish. Jen is our trained Landscape Institute (formerly CABE) Spaceshaper 9-14 facilitator.

Key experience

  • Public realm, town centre regeneration & masterplanning schemes
  • Consultation and engagement
  • Planning & listed buildings
  • CABE Spaceshaper 9-14 facilitator

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

The more places that I work on the more I recognise that there is not one magic solution to place making.   Urban design and planning is about getting to know a place; its setting, its people and its meaning.  Understanding the detail whilst taking a broad perspective helps to identify innovative and meaningful solutions that make a place great. 

What is favourite place & why:

Barcelona - I love the vibrancy of the streets and spaces, the architectural and artistic influences, the buzz of people and of course the food!

What interests you outside of work?

I am passionate about community work, and assist in running weekly clubs for children – organising activities for a group of energetic ten year olds is energy sapping, but it is very rewarding. Aside from this, I enjoy being creative; baking and sewing are my main outlets for this creativity!

Favourite website:

Pinterest – it's full of inspiration from all over the web.