Planit builds in architectural expertise with Ionita hire
After five years at Chapman Taylor, Catalina Ionita has joined the landscape architect and urban strategist’s Altrincham office as its urban design studio director.
At Planit, Ionita will bolster the firm’s placemaking expertise, help shape its design strategy offering, enhance cross-sector collaboration, and grow its client base.
Ionita has more than a decade of experience in architecture, is vice chair of the North West Women in Property branch, a Salford City Council design review forum member, and an associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Bringing in a trained architect is part of Planit’s forward-thinking, integrated approach to regeneration. It also comes as the business repositions itself as regenerative at its core – focussed on delivering projects that restore communities and ecosystems, leaving them more resilient in the process.
Ionita said it was this focus on regenerative design that drew her to Planit in the first place.
“Too often, placemaking is treated as an afterthought, something applied once the key decisions have already been made. For me, it should be the starting point,” she said.
“I am passionate about shifting that mindset, positioning placemaking as a driver of long-term value, not just socially, but economically,” Ionita continued.
“This move is also a personal one. I wanted to step into a role where I can have a more direct and strategic impact on how places are shaped, and Planit offers that opportunity. I am excited to help push for a more integrated, human-centred approach to regeneration and urban design.”
Ionita added later: “There is a real energy within Planit around collaboration and experimentation, and that really resonated with me. It feels like a place where I can bring everything I have learned so far, but also keep learning and pushing the conversation forward.”
Andy Roberts, Planit’s urban design director said: “We are delighted Catalina’s joined Planit’s urban design team at a pivotal moment in the company’s drive towards regenerative. She is a great fit for us!
“Cat’s mix of commercial delivery and academic strengths will help to embed regenerative thinking in projects across the UK – from city-wide strategies, neighbourhood frameworks to joint venture partnerships – to deliver net positive impact developments.”
There are plenty of projects at Planit for Ionita and the wider team to put those regenerative design concepts into action. The interdisciplinary practice is currently working on the ECF-led regeneration of Marina Village in Barrow, the reimagining of Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, the 2030 Derby city centre masterplan, and the green and blue infrastructure strategy for New Carrington.
In joining Planit, Ionita has come to a company with 107 staff members who work across the firm’s five studios. In addition to a base in Altrincham, Planit has offices in Liverpool, Leeds, London, and Gloucester. The Altrincham office, where Ionita is based, is the workplace for 61 employees.
Ionita is not the only new recruit for Planit. The company has also recently welcomed Carl Hordsall and Chris Massey as principal landscape architects. Phil Porter has also been promoted to studio director at the practice’s Leeds studio.
