AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

12 January 2006

Auckland City appoints urban design champion

A leading United Kingdom urban design expert has been appointed as Auckland City's senior urban design specialist.

Ludo Campbell-Reid is currently senior designer, Tower Hamlets Council, London. In 2003, he was shortlisted for "best public sector planner or planning organisation" in the Mayor of London's London Planning Awards. He has been chief executive of Urban Design London (www.urbandesignlondon.gov.uk).

His appointment follows the recommendation of the Mayoral Task Force on Urban Design, an initiative of the Mayor Dick Hubbard, for the council to establish the position of an urban design manager to champion better quality, design-led development of the city.

As part of his roles in London, Mr Campbell-Reid has provided expert urban design, architectural and planning advice to community groups, local, regional and central government agencies as well as private sector development companies both in the United Kingdom and internationally.

He has a Master of Arts (urban design) from Oxford "Brookes" University.

He also has experience with regeneration strategies, visioning frameworks, briefs, tenders and master planning studies for citywide projects, including mixed-use, waterfronts, public space and dense inner city neighbourhoods and transport nodes. He was a core team member of the Cape Town Olympic bid and was involved in the Barcelona and London Olympic bid processes.

His responsibilities at Auckland City will include:

- acting as a champion for urban design in Auckland

- providing quality advice to and working with developers to maximise the benefits of their projects to investors and the city

- overseeing all the council's urban design work, projects and programmes

- providing advice for council members

- acting as mentor and coach for Auckland City's existing urban design team

- working with urban design professionals on programmes designed to educate the public and other professional people.

Mayor Dick Hubbard says that Mr Campbell-Reid's appointment is proof that this council is serious about urban design.

"The past year has seen a real sea change for the future of the city's design and functionality," he says.

"Last year my Urban Design Taskforce advised us to boost our capability in urban design and Mr Campbell-Reid's appointment is a clear demonstration of our commitment to quality development. His appointment will further enhance a team that was boosted by the creation of other positions prior to Christmas."

John Duthie, general manager city development, says this is an exciting appointment for an already important group within the council.

"The urban design team within council fulfils an important function in managing and guiding the direction of the city's urban design framework. The addition of Ludo Campbell-Reid to this group will further lift the urban design programme.

"Mr Campbell-Reid's experience with high density developments and transport node design and as an urban design advocate with public and private sectors will be particularly valuable to the city, but we will also be looking to him to advance understanding of the benefits of quality urban design in the public and private realms."

Mr Campbell-Reid, who was in Auckland last year speaking as part of the 'Designing Auckland: urban transformations' public forum, will take up the newly created position by May this year.

ENDS

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