Katie Kavanagh

Katie is an experienced design manager with particular expertise in urban residential development. Before joining the Associate Programme, she worked on a broad range of projects, including traditional housing, high-rise concrete frames, and the conversion of historic buildings across London, the Home Counties, and Manchester. 

Her primary focus is project delivery, ensuring designs are buildable and achieve budget expectations and quality standards. Her work has involved close collaboration with the many stakeholders involved in the construction process, from design team appointments to post-occupancy customer service assistance.

She was matched with the role of Housing Delivery and Design Manager at Calderdale Council where she was tasked with leading the Housing Strategy and Growth Team. The team is responsible for developing the council's housing strategy, responding to consultations on planning applications, promoting the development of housing on council-owned land, and supporting developers and registered providers to overcome viability issues on development sites to ensure more housing can be developed in the borough.

During her placement, Katie worked closely with other teams within the council with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Homes England to obtain funding that unlocked development on sites across the borough. The funding has contributed to the procurement of masterplanning and viability studies on council-owned sites, which have subsequently been successfully marketed, with developers secured on several sites. Her team also supported developers in securing capital funding, closing viability gaps on sites that would otherwise stall.

Calderdale Council

Katie led the Housing Strategy and Growth team at Calderdale Council. The team was responsible for developing council strategy in relation to housing, responding to consultations on planning applications for housing, promoting the development of housing on council-owned land, and supporting developers and registered providers to overcome viability issues on development sites to ensure more housing could be developed in the borough. Katie and her colleagues worked closely with other teams within the council, as well as engaging with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Homes England, obtaining funding to unlock development on sites across the borough. Funding had contributed to the procurement of master planning and viability studies on council-owned sites, which had subsequently been successfully marketed, with developers secured on a number of sites. Her team also supported developers to secure capital funding, closing viability gaps on sites that would otherwise stall.