Key People

Principal of Steven Bee Urban Counsel, providing critical, creative and strategic advice and guidance to all involved in planning and development. Former CABE Enabler and Planning Advisory Committee member, former Chair of the Academy of Urbanism, previously Director of Planning and Development at English Heritage, Chief Development Officer and Director of Development Services at Winchester City Council, and Technical Director at Llewelyn-Davies.

Following a successful career as a heritage consultant in Sydney, Australia, Robyn returned to England in 2014.  There she worked for the National Trust of New South Wales for over 30 years, including as a member of its Board of Directors. Robyn has degrees in art history, heritage conservation and architecture, and has practised as a curator. As a member of the Trust’s Urban Conservation Committee, Robyn advised on issues affecting urban conservation areas and provided assessments of development applications. As a member of ICOMOS’s ISC CIVVIH (Historic Cities, Towns & Villages) she understands the wider goals for international historic urban areas. Robyn is currently undertaking a PhD in architecture at the University of Sydney on contemporary design in the historic environment. She is a Board Director and Chair of the Collections Trust at the Museum of Richmond and a guardian at SPAB.

Ian is an architect by training, with experience of projects in the heritage sector, urban design, retirement housing and dementia care. He is a Director of Ian Read Design and a former Associate and member of PRP Architects Design Quality Steering Group. Prior to this Ian was a Project Architect at Martin Ashley Architects, working on a number of cultural and historical places in and around London. Ian has undertaken studies in environmental education and the conservation of parks and gardens. His current case study research reviews innovative measures by local authorities and community groups in France, Italy and Japan that confront similar threats to rural settlements.

Tanya is a Conservation and Design Officer with extensive experience working in local authorities. She provides design advice on planning applications, works with architects on the design of new buildings and new developments, determines applications for listed building consent, and provides pre-application advice. Her work has involved varied physical environments from tightknit streets with high land values where towers are promoted by developers, to rural areas where new developments are proposed in sensitive locations. Her posts include Lewes District Council, Rother District Council, Colchester Borough Council, Islington Borough Council, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. With an MSc in Sustainable Heritage, she is also the architectural columnist for the Hastings Independent, an Executive Committee member of the IHBC SE Branch helping to organise events, and a member of the Southwark Conservation Area Advisory Group. She was a panel member and conservation and design officer representative for SPAB’s first ‘Old House Show’.

Alan is the South-West Regional Adviser for Historic England, where he is responsible for policy and strategic and technical advice across a diverse range of historic towns and villages. He also prepares the region’s statutory response to Neighbourhood Planning consultations; oversees HE’s Conservation Areas at Risk register; supports Heritage Action Zones and High Street Heritage Action Zones; and provides strategic advice on masterplanning within areas of significant heritage sensitivity. As a previous Senior Advisor at CABE and Head of Design Review at The Design Council, he was responsible for advising on the design quality of England's most significant emerging development projects. He was lead advisor for CABE’s design review panels for Nationally Significant Projects and launched the London Design Review Panel at the Design Council Cabe. As a Chartered Member of RIBA, RIAS, Executive Committee Member of the Urban Design Group (UDG), Alan is also Principal Director at AP Thompson Ltd offering strategic design advice.

Bio to follow

An historian and heritage professional by training, Lucy joined the HTVF in 2023. She has a longstanding interest in the built environment, sustainable development and how old buildings can have viable futures. With over 15 years of experience in managing learning programmes of all levels in the conservation of historic buildings, landscapes and associated craft skills, her broad interests are represented by the breadth of HTVF’S work. Lucy has been involved as a staff or board member in heritage networks and organisations at a local, regional, national and international level, and values the dedication and enthusiasm that can be found across the sector.

Sophie has a background in communications, policy and programme management. Her interests are in urban design and regeneration, land use and spatial planning. Roles over the last few years have included working with brains (medical science platforms), buildings (capital projects) and boards (governance and risk management). Sophie joined the HTVF in 2023, and also works in the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford and with the Good Homes Alliance.

John is Chairman of the Herbert Lane Trust (formerly the Association of Small Historic Towns and Villages).  John has spent most of his career in investment banking.  He is a member of the Executive Committee of CPRE Oxford Branch and has been involved in the restoration of a number of historic buildings.  He is a director of several companies in the UK and abroad.

Emeritus Professor of Conservation and the Historic Environment, Oxford University. Emeritus Fellow of Kellogg College, Member of the Advisory Committee of Historic England, Associate Member of the Design Advice Forum of the National Trust, Trustee of Oxfordshire Churches Trust, Vice-President of Oxford Preservation Trust, Former Trustee of the Landmark Trust, Past President of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, and Past President of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain.

With a career mainly in the public sector at a strategic level, Michael is a planner and chartered surveyor, and was formerly Head of Land Use Planning and Regeneration at English Heritage. He continues to represent the interests of the historic environment, is a former Vice Chair of the National Planning Forum, erstwhile adviser to the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, and was Vice President of the Association of Small Historic Towns and Villages (ASHTAV). He has contributed directly to the Forum’s research programmes and published guidance.