Tom Lonsdale

Tom works freelance as a design quality mentor across a broad range of built environment situations, concentrating particularly on design review and enabling. See (www.placecraft.co.uk).

He was Chief Landscape Architect for Manchester City Council between 1975 and 1989 prior to establishing Camlin Lonsdale Landscape Architects, which he managed from 1989 to 2008. The practice earned a national reputation for design innovation and helped move the profession of Landscape Architecture to the forefront of strategic masterplanning, urban regeneration and understanding the essential prerequisites of great places.

Tom’s extensive freelance work for Design Council and CABE has increased his influence and authority outside the confines of his own profession. He has considerable experience of design team procurement and both competing in and judging international design competitions. He shares his insights widely by writing and lecturing, plus advisory input on academic courses.

Art has been a constant theme throughout Tom's career, with numerous collaborations that include Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage. The narrative of places and their relationship with people colours his outlook on design, in which buildings are essentially part of the landscape and inform its identity.