Rob Thompson

I am an urban designer/urbanist with over 25 years’ experience in both local government and private practice.  In 2016 I set up rtu.rob thompson urbanism, working across the country on a diverse range of urban design, regeneration, visioning and masterplanning projects.

I also teach urban design and placemaking at Liverpool University and Sheffield Hallam University.

My current work includes a role as in-house urban designer for North West Leicestershire District Council, as well as working on numerous projects across Lincolnshire.  I was the urban design principal responsible for the recent Manchester Residential Quality Guidance, which was Overall Winner and Innovation Winner at the RTPI NW Awards 2017 and spent 10 years working within Sheffield City Council’s urban design team, providing guidance on major developments and leading on developing urban design policy.

I am co-author of Urbanism, published in November 2016, a compendium of 75 schemes nominated by the Academy of Urbanism across the United Kingdom and Europe that forms part of their annual Awards.

An Academician and Council Member of the Academy of Urbanism, I am also an Urban Design Recognised Practitioner as well as the Yorkshire Region representative of the Urban Design Group, and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

In 2020 I am the Lay Assessor for the RIBA Yorkshire Design Awards.