An interview by Hugh Pearman first published in RIBA J on 16/08/16 – https://www.ribaj.com/culture/civic-strategist. Croydon’s development director, Colm Lacey, is a man known for getting things done. Could his ambitious programme create London’s third city? Croydon is the south London borough that, with its mainline trains and its trams, its famous skyline and leafy, hilly …
First published in Architecture Today, February 2016 – www.architecturetoday.co.uk. I left North Dublin for East London a long time ago. I left for love, thinking I would be back soon. Only my mother, sobbing uncharacteristically at the airport, knew I wouldn’t. Pre-Celtic Tiger, Dublin purred contentedly, uncompetitively. With the notable exception of Temple Bar, physical …
First published in Architects Journal 28/10/15 – https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion/croydon-councils-colm-lacey-why-we-set-up-our-own-architectural-practice. Colm Lacey, director of development at Croydon Council, says the authority’s new in-house architectural practice will share the guiding principles of the ‘fabled council architects departments’ Change is definitely afoot in Croydon. The primping and preening of land trading has given way to a more considered and …
First published in The Architects Journal, 30 June 2015 – https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion/to-meet-housing-needs-we-need-simple-deliverable-schemes To be genuinely effective in meeting dire housing need, we must create simple, deliverable schemes, says Croydon Council’s Colm Lacey If there is one thing everyone seems to agree on, from Mark Carney to Russell Brand, it is that we are in the grip …
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First published in The Architects Journal, 18 March 2015 – www.architectsjournal.co.uk/practice/croydons-colm-lacey-local-authorities-are-becoming-a-far-more-intelligent-client Colm Lacey, director of development at Croydon Council, outlines plans for delivering major public realm schemes in the borough Describe your main roles?My role is to guide and influence development activity in Croydon to ensure that it addresses local need. This includes acting as …
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