Former Oldham planning head joins Studio KMA

Oldham-based architecture practice, Studio KMA, has recruited Stephen Irvine, formerly Oldham Council’s head of planning, as a director.

Irvine’s appointment as director of town planning follows the recruitment of Stuart Hadfield and Peter Fisk, both based in Chester, earlier this year to build Studio KMA’s pre-planning and delivery services, alongside traditional design.

Irvine was suspended and then resigned from Oldham Council in August this year.

Irvine has 29 years’ experience working within the planning sector, first at Westminster City Council before moving to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets where he worked on schemes in east London and Canary Wharf.

Irvine worked for Oldham Council from November 2015, having previously worked as a planning director at Lichfields, and at Cheshire East Council, where he was planning manager.

Irvine said: “The prospect of joining a practice that sees planning and architecture as two complementary pieces of the development process – something I’ve always argued passionately for – was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down and it’s great to be working with such talented colleagues and forward thinking clients.

Andrew Titterton, the founding director of Studio KMA studio, said: “Stephen is a great addition to our team and is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced town planners I know. He has worked on many significant and prestigious schemes across London and the North West, adding value and expertise to them all. He will ensure our clients get the best town planning advice available, adding to the practice’s already considerable architectural and design skills. Bringing together architectural and planning skills under one roof, makes this practice a ‘one-stop shop’ for development advice.”