ODA announces planning team

The Olympic Delivery Authority has revealed the team that will take control of planning for key 2012 sites. The 11-strong Planning Committee is to take over planning in an area based on the Olympic Park in East London in September after an order is passed transferring planning powers to the ODA.

The group comprises two ODA board members, four local councillors and five independent people selected through an open advertisement.

The team will be led by the ODA’s newly-appointed head of development control, Vivienne Ramsey, who joins from the London Borough of Newham.

Members of the Planning Committee and their biographies:

Lorraine Baldry

Lorraine Baldry is chairman of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation and was previously CEO of Chesterton International. Before that she was a senior advisor at Morgan Stanley, Investment Banking Division. She is also chairman of Inventa Partners and chairman of Central London Partnership.

David Taylor

Taylor is an exponent of urban regeneration and he has worked extensively in the public, private and voluntary sectors. He is chairman and joint founder of Silvertown Quays, a special purpose company established to create a vibrant new heart for the Royal Docks in East London. He is a former CEO of English Partnerships and personal adviser to John Prescott.

Cllr Rofique Ahmed

Ahmed has represented Mile End and Globe Town Ward in Tower Hamlets since 2002. He is chair of London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ Development and Strategic Development Committees.

Cllr Conor McAuley

McAuley is the operational executive adviser on regeneration to Newham’s elected Mayor, vice chair of the Thames Gateway London Partnership and a member of the board of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation.

Cllr Geoff Taylor

Taylor was first elected to Hackney Council in 2002 and has been chair of both the Planning Committee and the Education Scrutiny Committee. He is currently the council’s historic environment champion.

Cllr Terry Wheeler

Wheeler is the London Borough of Waltham Forest Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Investment.

Mike Appleton

Appleton has 30 years experience in regional/urban policy implementation and project delivery. This includes roles in central government, public agencies and management consulting. He is a director of Cibitas, a regeneration company.

Celia Carrington

Carrington is deputy CEO and group director, environment and leisure, at Swindon Borough Council.

William Hodgson

Hodgson is an architect based in Hackney. He was elected to the London Borough of Hackney from 2002-6, where he chaired the planning sub-committee.

Janice Morphet

Morphet has over 35 years experience in local and central government in a number of roles including as a planner, director of technical services and as a local authority chief executive in London and elsewhere. She is currently visiting professor of planning at the Bartlett School of Planning at University College London and a director of rmjm consulting.

Dru Vesty

Vesty is a fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute and has held senior roles in the public and private sectors. She is a board member of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation and Tower Homes.