“I enjoy working at the forefront of economic policy and change. Our work is always current and very relevant. I like to use my experience in economic development to help implement change which has a positive impact.”
Margaret Collins
Director
Location: London
Education: BA (Hons) Economics and Economic & Social History
Areas of Expertise: Economic impact assessments, economic advice to support the planning system, Objectively Assessed Housing Need (OAN), local economic analysis, policy and programme evaluation
Margaret has more than 16 years’ experience in economic development. She specialises in providing advice to both the public and private sectors on land and property issues.
Margaret regularly assesses the socio-economic impacts of major development schemes. This includes mixed use commercial and retail schemes, residential property, wind farms and transport schemes. Her work is often used to secure government investment or planning approval for major schemes, quite often informing Environmental Statement Chapters (ES Chapters). Margaret also assesses the requirement for housing need across local areas. She has acted as an expert witness in this regard on several occasions, assessing the need for housing across the UK.
Recent projects Margaret has led which have assessed economic impacts include the Elephant & Castle scheme, residential schemes at Twickenham Station and Acton Oaks, and the HS2 transport scheme on behalf of London Borough of Hillingdon.
Margaret regularly leads economic research and provides policy advice. Recent assignments include a sector study for Old Oak and Park Royal, and prior to this, industrial estate research to understand how the OPDC area is performing compared to other estates across the UK.
In her spare time, Margaret tries to find time to join her running group in St Albans, alongside running after a very busy toddler.
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