Vicky Payne

Vicky’s skills combine technical knowledge of planning and urban design with a creative background in art and illustration. She has experience of large scale masterplanning, town centre strategies, multi-authority spatial planning, urban research and design policy development. Vicky joined Jas Bhalla Works to support the continued development of their masterplanning and urban design work and is currently leading the preparation of a masterplan for a 5000 home Garden Community in Huntingdonshire.

Vicky spent 8 years working at the Manchester based urban design co-operative URBED. There she helped develop the National Model Design Code; co-authored a book on UK High Streets; developed spatial strategies for Greater Manchester and the Constellation Partnership; created town centre strategies for Radcliffe and Barnsley; and helped prepare masterplans for an 8000-home garden village in Staffordshire, an innovative university settlement in Keele, and a new settlement around Worcestershire Parkway.

She is the current chair of the RTPI’s Urban Design Network, was one of The Planners “Women of Influence” in 2022 and is passionate advocate for planning as a discipline. She has written for The Planner and Urban Design Quarterly, appeared as regular guest on the 50 Shades of Planning podcast and spoken at events including the Festival of Place.