Charles is Partner-in-Charge of Collaborative Planning with communities and stakeholders from all backgrounds and sectors. He leads JTP’s dedicated community planning team, managing and facilitating co-design processes around the UK and internationally that combine both in-person and online activities to ensure that everyone is able to participate.
Internationally, Charles has co-led a cooperative regional planning Charrette in Auroville, India; community Charrettes as part of the Scottish Government’s Charrette mainstreaming programme in Girvan, Wick and Thurso; several Charrette processes in Sweden, and an international multi-disciplinary team through three Charrette processes to plan an eco-resort in Tanjung Ringitt, Indonesia. Charles’ book entitled ’20/20 Visions: Collaborative Planning and Placemaking’, published by RIBA Publishing was a finalist in the Urban Design Group Book Award 2019. In 2009, he travelled to San Diego to accept the International Association of Public Participation Project of the Year Award 2009 for Scarborough Renaissance. Charles is an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism and a Design Council Expert (Specialist). He has lectured at various universities and spoken at a range of international conferences and seminars including The Academy of Urbanism Quality Life, Beautiful City conference in Hangzhou March 2018, The American Institute of Architects Conference in San Diego in 2018, and the Remaking Cities Congress in Pittsburgh 2013. He has contributed to various publications, including drafting ‘Collaborative Planning for All’, published by Civic Voice in 2015.
Courses
UK-US Contemporary Experiences with Collaborative Design & Planning
Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 2-3pm ET
Design professionals across the United Kingdom have been at the forefront of efforts to promote international adaptation of collaborative design practice since the 1980s. In 1988, a seminal joint design assistance team project took place between UK and American professionals in Pittsburgh, leading to a wave of new practice across Europe and beyond. This session will explore comparative experiences in collaborative design and planning with two leading thinkers, as well as the development of the Association for Collaborative Design. The session will share experiences with collaborative planning events from the UK and elsewhere and introduce the new Engagement Overlay to the RIBA Plan of Work, a tool to promote best practice and ensure the most successful and collaborative project outcomes.