Eleri Thomas Email & Phone Number

London

I founded Squeezed London, a small co-housing community-led development company, with a group of locals who live and work in Tower Hamlets through the Tower Hamlets Self Build Forum. We had a shared ambition to build housing for our families that's affordable, well-designed, sustainable and flexible and that gives back to the community.We were the successful bidders for a site at Lark Row, E2 through the Tower Hamlets Affordable Self Build Programme. This involved successfully bidding for the site, procuring a fantastic design and consultant team to work with us, project managing the process, and working closely with the local community, stakeholders and planning department to steer the site through to RIBA stage 3. Unfortunately the Affordable Self Build Programme was cancelled by the local Council in late 2023, which meant that the project had to come to an end.

Greater London, England, United Kingdom

Senior Manager leading on all matters relating to strategy and policy to support economic development in Newham, supporting sustainable growth and the achievement of positive outcomes in one of London's fastest growing and most challenging boroughs.This included developing the evidence base and setting out the strategic approach for shaping Newham's future economy, based on an ambitious mission-based approach that works collaboratively across Council departments and with external partners and stakeholders.

London, England, United Kingdom

I led on some of the council's highest priority strategic regeneration and partnerships.I managed the transition of the LLDC as part of the Olympic Legacy on behalf of Newham. This has involved working with Growth Boroughs, the LLDC and GLA on future arrangements for estate management, planning strategy, commercial and placemaking and securing benefits for residents. This has included leading Newham on a new Inclusive Economy Strategy for East London, and providing advice and ensuring alignment between the LLDC Transition, Stratford Vision, and proposals for the redevelopment of Stratford Station.I was also regeneration lead for Beckton Riverside. This involves the creation of up to 10,000 new homes and a new major town centre, working with TfL, GLA, Homes England and RB Greenwich on a business case to HM Treasury for a ~£1 billion DLR extension to Thamesmead; establishing vision and placemaking principles through a resident co-design engagement process alongside the Local Plan.

London, United Kingdom

Guest lecturer on Policy in Practice for third year Politics BA and Multidisciplinary Design for third year Designing Cities BA.

I was placed in Newham Council as a Public Practice Associate, forming part of a cohort of skilled built environment professionals selected to build capacity, skills and knowledge within the public sector.

London, United Kingdom

The Architecture & Built Environment team at Design Council provide independent design support, advice and research to support good design in the built environment, in order to create more successful, healthy and inclusive places. We use our network of 400 multidisciplinary Built Environment Experts to provide independent, expert advice, including design review, design support, policy reviews and bespoke advice, for a range of clients including local and combined authorities, estates, infrastructure providers and developers.I run a series of Design Advice Panels across the UK and internationally. This involves leading on client management, business development, project management, finances, the design and delivery of advice programmes, and the management of a team of Advisors who deliver programmes. I manage the Design Council's programme on Inclusive Environments and have recently launched the Inclusive Environments CPD, an MHCLG funded project to support a better understanding of inclusive environments among built environment professionals. I am also currently managing Design Council's work as part of Home of 2030, an initiative that aims to support innovation in housing to tackle climate change and provide housing for an ageing population. I have a particular interest in how we evaluate and learn from advice and projects in the built environment to create best practice. I work closely with our Policy and Research team to provide built environment input on our responses to Government policy, research and insight projects, and the development of an approach and methodology to evaluate and learn from design advice. I regularly represent Design Council externally as a speaker at events, conferences and roundtables, and in contributing to publications and blogs.

London, United Kingdom

London

I led on, contributed to and authored a series of research projects while at Centre for Cities, working with colleagues to undertake quantitative and qualitative research on a wide range of topics including urban demographic change, apprenticeships, data and smart cities, housing and planning, graduate mobility and the Northern Powerhouse.I worked with contacts across academia, Whitehall, local government and the third sector as a representative of the Centre, presenting research and supporting policy development. I was also a frequent contributor to the Centre for Cities blog and other external media including the Guardian and City Metric at the New Statesman.

19 November 2014: The Inevitable City: The Resurgence of New Orleans and the Future of Urban America by Scott Cowen and Betsy Seifter

London

Associate with Plan Projects alongside Barefoot Architecture and Ecos Maclean on developing a planning application for a new self-build community, including developing a masterplan and supporting analysis for the planning application.

London, United Kingdom

Research support for a small planning consultancy, including literature and policy reviews and public consultation

Master'S Degree, Urban Design, Distinction

Beginners And Advanced Development, Html, Css, Jquery, Python

Designed and built "tweetmap" - an app which maps geo-located tweets across the world to enable users to follow trending topics.

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), History

Activities and Societies: Director of the Brasenose Arts Festival and Brasenose Arts Fund; Chairman of the Ashmole Society; Choral Scholar.

Postgraduate Certificate, Spatial Planning, Distinction