Leigh is a Senior Engagement Lead at JTP and supports the practice’s digital and in-person community engagement processes, working with communities and stakeholders to help build shared visions for masterplanning projects and regeneration strategies.
Leigh leads JTP Engages, JTP’s integrated, multi-award-winning community engagement team, and has played a key role in developing its innovative tools and techniques including JTP’s bespoke interactive mapping platform, GIS analysis, personalised project websites and social media video content. Leigh brings extensive experience in designing engagement programmes that reache diverse and under-represented groups, including dedicated youth panels and tailored formats for communities with limited time or confidence in formal consultation processes.
At Chrisp Street town centre and estate regeneration for Telford Living, Leigh designed and delivered a bespoke engagement programme that reached thousands of residents, businesses and stakeholders. The team engaged 2,800 people over 45 hours, gathering 4,179 comments, 100,000 social-media views, 1,200 website visits and 30,000 flyers. This comprehensive process led to 88% support for the regeneration plans.
At Finchley Lakeside, where JTP are transforming the lakeside enterprise campus for Pentland Group, Leigh has engaged hundreds of local people through structured youth panels and targeted community events. Both the Chrisp Street and Finchley Lakeside engagement programmes were named finalists in the 2026 Pineapple Awards in the Stakeholder Engagement category.
Leigh also worked with Calderdale Council and the local community to help create the Calderdale Placemaking and Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Leigh facilitated an extensive community engagement process that included in-person events and walkabouts, online webinars, an interactive map, and the formation of a Community Review Panel to evaluate the guide as it developed. This programme won the 2024 Planning Awards for Best Stakeholder Engagement in Planning.
With decades of experience working with challenging audiences and navigating complex community dynamics, Leigh is well equipped to overcome the barriers that can arise on sensitive projects. His approach prioritises early, open engagement with those most affected, building credibility through honest communication and clear design responses to feedback.
Before joining JTP, Leigh completed urban design internships in Manchester, where he contributed to several community engagement projects. He also co-founded two community greening groups in Manchester city centre, helping to create better environments through sustainable gardening and to improve social wellbeing.
