Public Practice Announces Spring 2026 Cohort

Local government is entering a period of significant transition, with local elections reshaping the political makeup of councils at the same time as planning reform, devolution and local government reorganisation continue to evolve nationally. Amidst these changes, Public Practice has announced its Spring 2026 cohort of Associates, bringing 36 built environment professionals into local authorities across England to strengthen planning and placemaking capability at a critical moment for the sector.

• This latest intake will see Associates placed in 26 authorities, including new partners Sheffield City Council, Northumberland County Council, North West Leicestershire District Council and North Northamptonshire Council.

• The development of this cohort has been enabled through a salary support programme funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening planning and placemaking capability across local government.

• The Spring 2026 cohort reflects Public Practice’s commitment to building multidisciplinary teams and supporting talented professionals to transition into public sector roles where their skills are most needed. The cohort includes a record number of architects moving into planning roles, highlighting the value of transferable expertise in addressing the national planning capacity crisis and the complex place-based challenges faced today.

• The new cohort is Public Practice’s most geographically diverse to date, with placements spanning the country and, for the first time, strong representation across East Midlands. This expansion reflects growing demand from local authorities seeking to build more resilient, multidisciplinary teams.

Local government is facing unprecedented change, with local elections shifting the political makeup of councils. This will impact decision-making, and re-ignite debates on issues including planning, housing delivery and the natural environment. These political shifts are landing at a time when planning reform, local government reform and devolution are at various stages of implementation.

At the same time, local authorities continue to face significant workforce pressures. Public Practice’s latest Recruitment and Skills Report found that attracting appropriately skilled candidates remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges, while planned recruitment per team has fallen sharply in recent years. Against this backdrop, the Associate Programme offers local authorities a practical route to access specialist skills while supporting experienced professionals to transition into long-term public service careers.

Since launching in 2017, Public Practice has delivered 441 placements in over 100 public sector organisations across England, with its 2024 Company Impact Report stating that over 70% of Associates remained working in the public sector 2+ years after the (12-month) programme ended.

The Associate Programme supports mid-career professionals to work within local authorities through a structured placement, alongside tailored learning and development and a peer network. In a time of change, these elements help Associates to become confident, resilient leaders and contribute to longer-term capability within planning and placemaking teams.

Among those joining this cohort are:

• Despoina Papadopoulou, co-founder of MAZI Architects, brings over 15 years of extensive international experience working on civic, educational and housing projects, to Northumberland County Council as Senior Planning Policy Officer.
• Ramit Saksena, an architect with experience working across spatial design, research and policy, joins the London Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth as a Planner (Policy).
• David Morton brings 25 years’ experience as an architect, leading social housing and estate renewal programmes to North Northamptonshire Council as the Principal Planner (Development Management).
• Suzanne O'Donovan, chartered architect and Associate Lecturer at Bath Spa University with experience across residential, education and masterplanning projects, joins Somerset Council as Senior Planning Officer.

Pooja Agrawal, Chief Executive of Public Practice, said:

“I am proud to announce our most national cohort to date, with Associates joining local authorities across England at a time of major change for local government. As councils respond to new political leadership, planning reform and increasing pressure to deliver housing and infrastructure, the need for skilled, creative, confident and multidisciplinary public sector teams has never been greater.

We’re particularly encouraged to see a record number of architects stepping into planning roles, demonstrating how transferable expertise can strengthen local government capability. By supporting talented professionals to move into public service, we are investing in the long-term resilience of local government and its ability to shape a better everyday through the places it creates.”

Alberta Commodore-Mensah, Senior Planner (Development Management), North Northamptonshire Council, said:

“I applied to the Public Practice Associate Programme to broaden my experience and play a more direct role in shaping places through the planning system. Alongside my architectural work, I’ve also been involved in community-based projects, including work with church communities, which really sparked my interest in how decisions are made and who they benefit.

My background in architecture has given me a strong, design-led perspective on the built environment, but I wanted to move from private practice into a role where I could be closer to the strategic side of shaping places. Through this placement, I’m looking forward to developing my planning knowledge and contributing to decisions that support more inclusive, thoughtful and well-designed communities”

Melissa Lockett, Investment Director, Institutional Retirement, Legal & General, said:
“It’s encouraging to see Public Practice expanding its Associate Programme at such a critical time for the sector. Bringing skilled, multidisciplinary professionals into local authorities will play an important role in strengthening planning capacity across the country.

The growing number of architects moving into planning roles is particularly welcome, showing how transferable expertise can help address complex, place-based challenges.

At a time of sustained workforce pressure, this programme offers a valuable route into public service while helping councils build more resilient, future-ready teams.”

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Are you looking to use your placemaking skills for public good? You can find more information here.

If you work in a public sector organisation and would like to know more, you can find further details on the website.

ENDS

Despoina Papadopoulou

Despoina is an RIBA architect with 15 years of international experience across Europe, the UK and the United States. She is co-founder of MAZI Architects, a practice working on civic, educational, housing and community-focused projects. Her experience spans large multidisciplinary practices and small research-led teams, with a focus on how design quality, social value and sustainability are shaped through policy and planning. She is a Design Tutor at Newcastle University and a volunteer adviser architect to Jesmond Library.

Ramit Saksena

Ramit is an architect working across spatial design, research and policy. His work focuses on heritage and community engagement, including projects with Historic England and the Greater London Authority. He has also worked on civic and cultural projects, including exhibition and spatial design for museums.

Alberta Commodore-Mensah

Alberta is an architect and practice founder with experience delivering residential, heritage and community-focused projects across London and the surrounding areas. She has worked across all RIBA stages, leading projects from concept through to completion, preparing Design and Access Statements and engaging with local authorities to navigate planning and regulatory processes. Her work combines design thinking with a strong understanding of development management and policy frameworks. Prior to joining the Spring Cohort 2026, Alberta led her own practice and developed an interest in public sector decision-making and place leadership, with a focus on sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods.

David Morton

David is an architect with 25 years’ experience in the residential sector across London and the surrounding region. He has led large-scale social housing and estate renewal programmes, working with residents, local authorities and private developers. His work focuses on residential masterplanning, regeneration and housing delivery in urban contexts. Prior to joining the Spring Cohort 2026, David was an Associate Partner in the private sector, specialising in residential masterplans and estate renewal.

Suzanne O'Donovan

Suzanne is a chartered architect with experience across workplace, retail, residential, education and masterplanning projects. She has worked at Farrells, Make Architects and SRA Architects, delivering projects from concept through to completion. She is also an Associate Lecturer at Bath Spa University.

The full cohort list can be accessed here

MEDIA PACK

Here is a selection of images to accompany the press release. Photography by Grant Donaldson.

NOTES TO EDITORS

All media requests, including requests for comment/interview from/with Pooja Agrawal (CEO), should be sent to felicity.gransden@publicpractice.org.uk

ABOUT PUBLIC PRACTICE

Public Practice was founded as a social enterprise in 2017 to build the

public sector’s capability to improve the quality, equality, and sustainability of places. It believes that the role of local government is crucial in creating and managing everyday places that work for everyone and that to achieve this, it must be well-resourced with diverse placemaking skills and the right support to lead the way.

The organisation delivers services to help the public sector build capacity and develop its placemaking capabilities, including recruiting talented professionals through the Associate Programme, providing workforce design strategy, a senior-level Jobs Board, and publishing annual insights to improve knowledge sharing and practice.

www.publicpractice.org.uk/

FUNDERS

Public Practice has support from the private, third and public sectors. Public Practice’s grant funders and supporters include MHCLG and the Greater London Authority. Partners include Legal and General, L&Q, Land Planning and Development Federation and the RTPI. More information here.