together a dozen development and regeneration professionals (and two academics in the field) and organised a structured series of site visits and discussion meetings to draft the “Guide to Development in Manchester” (published January 2007). Ian Simpson was a member of the group, as was Nick Johnson, later to become CEO of Urban Splash. When the IRA bomb struck in the City Centre in 1996, the text to the Guide was competed and agreed by the Council, awaiting illustration and formal publication. The Guide, which shortly afterwards adopted as Supplementary Planning Document and Planning Guidance (SPD) was issued as part of the Council's brief for production of a masterplan for the reconstruction of the city centre. Ian Simpson Architects joined the team led by EDAW, chosen after open competition. Ian's local knowledge and his strategy to grasp the opportunity to expand the city centre formed the core of the proposals. Current In 2013 he took on Nick Johnson, Urban Splash’s former deputy CEO, in a non-executive role to help explore future direction. Simpson has also brought in experienced Manchester architect Roger Stephenson, whose own practice went into administration, helping him set up a new studio within the practice which will concentrate on projects at a different scale and type to Simpson and Haugh’s work. Source: Amanda Baillieu Building Design 9.5.13 Posts Held Lecturer at Manchester School of Architecture 1987–1994 External examiner for the London South Bank University and Newcastle University Vice President (Architecture) for Liverpool John Moores University Design Academy. Board Member for Oldham and Rochdale Housing Market Renewal (HMR) Pathfinder. Fellow of the RSA, The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. External links Ian Simpson Architects References Manchester Evening News 20.7.12 http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/beetham-tower-architect-ian-simpson-691449 ] Amanda Baillieu Building Design 9.5.13 http://www.bdonline.co.uk/ian-simpson-how-i-lost-millions-in-unpaid-fees/5054423.article%20 ] BD http://www.bdonline.co.uk/roger-stephenson-architects-goes-bust-owing-£500k/5049432.article ] Joanne Lamm South China Morning Post http://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/1317668/exciting-storeys ] Daon Bruni for Fashion Art and Design Weekly August 2013 weekly on-line magazine John Sunyer, Financial Times 22.3.13 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/230a6b38-8fca-11e2-ae9e-00144feabdc0.html#slide0 ] Architects from Greater Manchester Living people People from Heywood, Greater Manchester 1950s births