Trained as an architect, Charlie worked for a number of years as a professional photo-journalist. He has returned to architecture through work as a tenant activist in Hulme in Manchester. He was a founder member of the Homes for Change Housing Co-operative as well as the architect of its second phase, established the Hulme Community architecture Project and co-authored the Hulme Guide to Development. For seven years he was a director of Build for Change, a community-based design and fabrication co-operative working on projects ranging in scale from furniture design to neighbourhood planning. Urban regeneration projects include London Fields in Hackney where, working with URBED he brought together the council and squatters to agree and design a live work scheme, which has recently been completed. He also worked with Daniel Libeskind on the Allerton Bywater Millennium Village and private sector masterplans for Brighton Station, Bristol Temple Quay and Southall Gas Works.

He has particular expertise in housing and community participation, working with Housing Market Renewal pathfinders across the country. He set up the Homes by Design and Places by Design training courses for the Glasshouse and National Tenant Resource Centre. He was a founder member of the Confederation of Co-operative Housing, a co-author of the Community Gateway Model for council housing, a member of the New Ventures Panel of Co-operatives UK, and chairs its Sustainability Group.

Click here to view Charlie's CV