Colm Lacey to lead firm鈥檚 public housing and urban research function

The founder and former chief executive of Croydon Council鈥檚 doomed housing developer Brick by Brick has been made a senior consultant at Coffey Architects. 

Colm Lacey announced his departure from Brick by Brick last August after six years at its helm of the group, which was criticised as being among the causes of Croydon鈥檚 bankruptcy in November 2020.

The arms-length developer is in the process of being wound down and Lacey recently set up his own consultancy, focusing on housing delivery and design stewardship in the public sector.

Colm Lacey joins Coffey Architects

Colm Lacey will be working three days a week at Coffey

An economist and urban designer by background, Lacey will work roughly three days a week for Coffey 鈥 his first client as a consultant 鈥 leading on the development of its public housing and urban research function.

Phil Coffey, director of the practice, said he had known Lacey for more than 10 years and admired his 鈥渃ommitment to responsible housing development and considered urbanism鈥.

Lacey said he was excited to be leading the work of a team on public housing and urban research 鈥渁t a time when cities are adapting to seismic shifts in land use patterns and urban economics鈥.