The Government has appointed Sarah Allan as its new head of architecture. Allan replaces Andy von Bradsky who held the role for two years.
Allan was former managing director of small site developer Solidspace before joining the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) this month (November). She is also a former built environment expert for the Design Council. She is an architect, urban designer and project manager with 25 years’ experience helping public and private sector clients deliver residential projects. In her new role she will work on areas such as improving the design quality of housing and placemaking, working with chief planner Joanna Averley.
Averley said Allan’s strong record as a client, adviser and architect will "contribute to the department’s work to deliver design quality in the built environment".
Solidspace founder Roger Zogolovitch said the appointment was a ‘great move’, citing her experience in MMC (modern methods of construction) and using land as a scarce resource will be "a real lesson to government".
The DLUHC is led by Michael Gove and is under pressure to align the planning system with the UK’s net zero goals as well as finding a lasting remedy to cladding scandals.
