expertise
Phil Rech has over twenty seven years experience of sustainable masterplanning, urban design, environmental capacity studies, site selection exercises and project direction from conception to completion. He has been responsible for the environmental planning and design of many large scale regeneration projects, often on brownfield land. These include major reclamation schemes in Coventry, Wakefield and Ashby where derelict colliery sites now support mixed residential, employment and leisure uses in accordance with the latest evolving government guidance.
Phil has been at the forefront of sustainable urban design since the late 1970’s, when he was a key member of Nottingham City Council’s regeneration team which successfully rescued the historic Lace Market from potential dereliction and decay. This work was recognized by the award of the RTPI Silver Jubilee Cup. He went on to masterplan the Greens Mills Ecology Park, based around a restored working windmill which serves as the focal point for the revitalisation of Sneinton.
His multi-disciplinary design expertise has since been utilized on a wide variety of major projects spread across the UK and Europe. Phil was responsible for the environmental masterplanning of the RAF Alconbury redevelopment near Huntingdon, with consent being granted after a landmark human rights public inquiry. This 400 ha site can provide the UK’s largest rail served distribution complex.
Phil is also leading the environmental masterplanning for the proposed Parkside Strategic Rail Freight Interchange in St Helens. This will redevelop the former colliery site for over 7 million ft² of distribution, with a new junction on the M6.
Phil has been responsible for the successful masterplanning of a succession of large scale sustainable residential mixed use projects on both brown and green field sites. The urban design perspective of these has changed progressively over the years in response to the increased density expectations established by central government. Schemes include the expansion of south west Basingstoke, (3,200 homes) The Bridge at Dartford (a key component of the Thames Gateway), and Bilston Urban Village, a regeneration initiative which delivers major community benefits for this important Wolverhampton community.
The Design Code prepared for Weedon Hill, Aylesbury, is now featured as a Case Study in “Planning Sustainable Communities”
Current ground breaking schemes include Bilston Urban Village, a mixed use scheme designed to regenerate the heart of the former steelmaking community, and East Kettering, a sustainable urban extension for nearly 10 thousand homes. Phil is also heavily involved in two potential eco – towns, opposing the scheme at Middle Quinton and promoting Weston Otmoor, where he has been responsible for the comprehensive green infrastructure strategy and its integration with the masterplan.
He has also led the reclamation of Rawdon Colliery to create the 35 hectare “Conkers” National Forest Discovery Centre. This £16million Lottery Funded scheme became the East Midlands Development Agency’s 2002 Regeneration Project of the Year, and received The Civic Trust Premier Partnership Award in 2003.
Phil has an established track record in the design and delivery of Energy from Waste facilities, building upon FPCR's long term involvement in the energy industry, which ranges from coal and gas fired power stations to Onshore oil and gas terminals. He led the environmental planning team which gained consent for the award winning Tyseley EFW in Birmingham, where strong design and innovative lighting created a striking landmark building. He subsequently played an important role in the delivery of three EFW's in Hampshire, giving expert evidence at the Inquiry which approved the critically important Portsmouth plant.
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