Dr Riëtte Oosthuizen joined HTA as Head of Planning in September 2007. She has 15 years of experience as planning consultant and researcher and has specific interests in housing and urban design, community engagement, and neighbourhood regeneration.
Before joining HTA, Riëtte worked at Knight Frank providing planning and development consultancy advice for housebuilders, developers, financial institutions and public sector clients. Prior to that, Riëtte worked for OPM, a management consultancy, specialising in facilitation, community engagement, research and strategic advice, on a number of built environment and community cohesion projects for clients such as CABE, the Home Office and the Scottish Executive. Riëtte has also worked with the Centre of Urban and Regional Studies (CURS), University of Birmingham, on a number of projects, including the detailed investigation of the impact of different types of neighbourhoods on the experience of social exclusion (URBEX), and a number of research reports on the integration of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Up to 1999, Riëtte lectured in planning theory at the Department of Town and Regional Planning, University of Pretoria, South Africa, and worked with several planning consultancies on Integrated Development Plans for townships such as Mamelodi (Pretoria), and former homeland areas such as around Ekangala.
Riëtte has provided planning advice on a number of residential lead mixed use schemes undertaken by HTA and its clients, including:
Simon is a Chartered Town Planner and Chartered Surveyor with extensive experience in the fields of town planning, development management, acquisition and viability assessments. He has previously advised a wide range of private and institutional clients in planning consultancy whilst working at CB Richard Ellis and Tribal Group.
Simon has been working for a wide range of clients including:
Simon has also worked for development companies including Taylor Wimpey, CALA Group and Frasers Property Developments, and has managed major development schemes and land acquisition programmes.
Key projects which Simon is providing planning consultancy:
Castleward, Derby: This is a major regeneration scheme in the centre of Derby, which will include over 800 mixed tenure residential units, retail and other commercial units. The area is currently consists of a variety of underutilised car parks, industrial units and warehouses in a prominent central location close to the city centre and station. The scheme will include a new primary school and community centre for local people and new residents, and investment in recreation and open space in the area. This scheme will involve consulting with local residents to involve them in the design and outcome of the scheme
Former Ada Lewis House, Islington: Southern Housing Group are looking to develop this former hostel site in Islington with the development of 50 unit mixed tenure residential scheme. HTA are providing planning consultancy to Southern.
New Homes for Luton: HTA has been advising Wates and Catalyst on this joint venture with Luton Borough Council to build 450 new homes in Luton on a number of sites in Luton. The Programme is focusing on family housing, with the construction of mostly 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses on underused land. Approximately 50% of the units will be affordable housing. five planning permissions have already been achieved comprising approximately 160 units.
