Jonathan Manns

Manns grew up in Shirley, Solihull, where he attended Woodlands Infant, St James CE and Shirley Heath schools before securing an assisted scholarship to nearby Solihull School in 1996.{{Cite journal |last=Lunt |first=Lucy |date=2022 |title=Honours for Old Sils |journal=The Silhillian |pages=39 |via=Solihull School}} He then read History at the University of Sheffield{{Cite web |date=1 July 2022 |title=Alumni and staff recognised in the 2022 Queen's Honours List |url=https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumni/news/alumni-and-staff-recognised-2022-queens-honours-list |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=University of Sheffield}} from 2003-2006 and after a period living in Nanjing, China, studied Planning, Growth and Regeneration at Girton College, Cambridge from 2007-2008.{{Cite web |title=Girtonians recognised in 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours list |url=http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/news/girtonians-recognised-2022-queens-birthday-honours-list |access-date=2022-06-14 |website=Girton College |language=en}}

Manns' professional background is in urban planning and real estate development, having qualified as both a town planner and surveyor. He has been described as "the pre-eminent British planner of his generation", "[one] of Britain's foremost urbanists" and "someone who has made a lasting and positive impact on communities and the built environment".{{Cite journal|date=February 2019|title="Going Above and Beyond" - RTPI Welcomes New Fellows|url=https://issuu.com/theplanner/docs/pln_feb_19_lrc|journal=The Planner|pages=46|via=Issuu}}{{Cite book|last=Huq|first=Rupa|url=https://www.londonforum.org.uk/reports/LondonSociety_proposals_for_Growth_in_West_London.pdf|title=Re/Shaping London: Unlocking Sustainable Growth in West London and Beyond|publisher=APPG for London's Planning and Built Environment|year=2016|location=London|pages=2|chapter=Foreword}}{{Cite journal|date=June 2021|title=RICS welcomes urbanist and champion of built environment as fellow|url=https://www.fmj.co.uk/magazines/202106/page_9.html|journal=Facilities Management Journal|publisher=KPM Media|volume=29|issue=6|pages=9}} He has been involved with many of London's tall buildings and contributed extensively to discussions around the management of land for housing. His work has attracted international interest and he has proposed reforms to several key policy areas.{{Cite book|last=Major|first=Mark David|title=The Syntax of City Space: American Urban Grids|publisher=Routledge|year=2018|isbn=9781138301573|location=New York (USA)}}{{Cite journal|last=Kesarovski|first=Todor|date=October 2014|title=Planning in Practice|url=https://www.academia.edu/10232492|journal=Atlantis|location=Delft (Nederlands)|publisher=TU Delft|volume=25|issue=1}}{{Cite book|last1=Buxton|first1=Michael|title=The Future of the Fringe: The Crisis in Peri-urban Planning|last2=Butt|first2=Andrew|publisher=Csiro Publishing|year=2020|isbn=9781486308965|location=Melbourne (Australia)}}{{Cite journal|last=Kahale|first=Lori|date=2016|title=Rendezvous with Jonathan Manns|url=https://www.academia.edu/25231601|journal=Urban|location=New York (USA)|publisher=Columbia University|pages=17–18}}

Manns has written extensively on the UK housing crisis. In 2017 he established the "House Me Now" campaign which crowd-funded the distribution of 2000 pass-it-on pamphlets around London to raise awareness of solutions amongst ordinary Londoners of possible solutions and to begin a social media debate.{{Cite web|last=Harold|first=Jess|date=7 June 2017|title=Diary: Crowdthinking the housing crisis|url=https://www.egi.co.uk/news/diary-crowdthinking-the-housing-crisis/|website=Estates Gazette}} In 2018, on behalf of the campaign, he signed an open letter, submitted by Siobhan McDonagh MP, to the UK Government, calling for the release of land close to transport nodes for development.{{Cite web|title=London's Non-Green Green Belt|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/ad_32_letter_from_siobahn_mcd_-_gb.pdf|last=McDonagh|first=Siobhan|date=7 December 2018|website=Siobhan McDonagh MP|access-date=17 May 2020}}

Manns' work on Green Belts is cited widely. In 2014 he authored a history of the emergence of London's green belt, which said that it should not be treated as sacrosanct and set out the historical precedent for reform.{{Cite news|last=Prynn|first=Jonathan|date=9 December 2014|title='London's green belt isn't sacrosanct … we need to build homes on it'|work=London Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/green-belt-land-isn-t-sacrosanct-we-need-to-build-homes-on-it-9912463.html|access-date=18 May 2020}} He has subsequently supported work by the London School of Economics {{Cite book|last1=Mace|first1=Alan|title=A 21st Century Metropolitan Green Belt|last2=Blanc|first2=Fanny|last3=Gordon|first3=Ian|last4=Scanlon|first4=Kath|publisher=LSE Knowledge Exchange|year=2016|location=London}} and in 2016 put forward the concept of a "Green Web" whereby new development would be accompanied by environmental enhancements and contribute to a net gain in biodiversity.{{Cite web|date=27 October 2016|title=Calls for Green Web to develop capital|url=https://londonplanninganalyst.com/2016/10/27/calls-for-green-web-to-develop-capital/|website=London Planning Analyst}} Manns' commentary on Green Belts has at times attracted criticisms: both that property professionals make unconvincing champions for reform {{Cite news|last=Moore|first=Rowan|date=19 October 2014|title=Is it time to rethink Britain's green belt?|work=The Observer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/oct/19/is-it-time-to-rethink-the-green-belt|access-date=18 May 2020}} and that his varied public profile constitutes a form of lobbying (a criticism which has itself attracted attention {{Cite book|last=Grindrod|first=John|title=Outskirts: Living Life on the Edge of the Green Belt|publisher=Sceptre|year=2017|isbn=978-1473625020|location=London}}).{{Cite news|last=Gilligan|first=Andrew|date=5 February 2017|title=Lobbyists behind attack on green belt|work=The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/lobbyists-behind-attack-on-green-belt-v8508lhx5|access-date=17 May 2020}}{{Cite book|last=Grant|first=Wyn|title=Lobbying: The Dark Side of Politics|publisher=Manchester University Press|year=2018|isbn=978-1-5261-2668-9|location=Manchester}} He has always stated his view that "public policy should be adaptable and that the emphasis should be firmly on securing the best outcomes. It should be possible to consider both whether the overall effects are beneficial and whether there is scope for improvement. If opportunities exist to deliver development more sustainably, the ability to explore and realise this should not be prevented by dogmatic defence of the status quo. England's green belt should not be off the table for appraisal and, if appropriate, amendment."{{Cite journal|last=Manns|first=Jonathan|date=2019|title=Revived or retired, the green belt must be rethought|url=https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/hsp/jurr/2019/00000012/00000003/art00002|journal=Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal|publisher=Henry Stewart|volume=12|issue=3|pages=215–217|via=IngentaConnect}}

In January 2020, Jake Berry MP, as Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, concluded a parliamentary debate on local services with an invitation for Rupa Huq MP to "be a bit naughty" and establish a cross-party "Suburban Taskforce".{{Cite web |date=28 January 2020 |title=Local Services: London Suburbs |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/%E2%80%8CCommons/2020-01-28/debates/B96FF335-8CE2-4DFF-937B-F323B5D89A73/LocalServicesLondonSuburbs#:~:text=This%20debate%20on%20services%20in%20our%20suburbs%20is%20in%20many |website=UK Parliament: Hansard}} The Taskforce launched in March 2020, co-chaired by Huq and David Simmonds MP.{{Cite web|last=Champ|first=Hamish|date=9 March 2020|title=MPs vote to create taskforce for London suburbs|url=https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/mps-vote-to-create-taskforce-for-london-suburbs/5104762.article|access-date=18 May 2020|website=Housing Today}} The stated purpose was "to shine a light on the suburbs in order to identify and secure the clear, long-term and properly resourced policies needed to support thriving, sustainable and inclusive suburban areas".{{Cite web|date=26 October 2020|title=The Suburban Taskforce|url=https://www.suburban-taskforce.org|website=The Suburban Taskforce}} The Advisory Board was announced in August 2020, with Manns named as its Chair.{{Cite web|last=Pitcher|first=Greg|date=19 August 2020|title=Call for evidence as Suburban Taskforce starts work|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/call-for-evidence-as-suburban-taskforce-starts-work|access-date=20 August 2020|website=Architects Journal}}{{Cite news|last=Davies|first=Helen|date=23 August 2020|title=Suburbs in the UK are due a renaissance|work=The Sunday Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/suburbs-in-the-uk-are-due-a-renaissance-cg3nnckd6|access-date=23 August 2020}} He claimed at the outset that its importance was that "city centres and the countryside have their advocates, but suburbs – where most of us live – haven’t received the attention they deserve" {{Cite web |last=Foges |first=Chris |date=2021-03-11 |title=Q+A: Jonathan Manns gives a glimpse into the Suburban Taskforce’s first report |url=https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/q-a-jonathan-manns-suburban-taskforce#:~:text=The%20parliamentary%20Suburban%20Taskforce%20has%20published%20its%20first%20report.%20Jonathan |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.ribaj.com |language=en}} and on publication that the work had changed "the way we think about the types of suburbs which exist and the specific challenges they face".{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Paul |date=6 September 2022 |title=Parliamentary Inquiry Into England’s Suburbs Finds Mounting Tension Over Development |url=https://product.costar.com/home/news/shared/1177595438/ |website=CoStar News}} The final Inquiry into the Future of the Suburbs, which identified a range of policy considerations and nine specific recommendations, was published in September 2022.{{Cite news |last=York |first=Melissa |date=4 September 2022 |title=The good life? No, we're all stressed in the suburbs by housing squeeze. |work=The Sunday Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/the-good-life-no-were-all-stressed-in-the-suburbs-by-housing-squeeze-7tbxmstln |access-date=9 September 2022}}{{Cite news |last=Waite |first=Richard |date=6 September 2022 |title=Suburban Taskforce calls for rethink of permitted development rules. |work=Architects Journal |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/suburban-taskforce-calls-for-rethink-of-permitted-development-rules |access-date=9 September 2022}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-06 |title=Suburbs face ‘tipping points’, MPs warn {{!}} LocalGov |url=https://www.localgov.co.uk/Suburbs-face-tipping-points-MPs-warn/54797#:~:text=The%20Suburban%20Taskforce%E2%80%99s%20co-chair,%20Rupa%20Huq%20MP,%20said:%20%E2%80%98England%E2%80%99s%20suburbs |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=www.localgov.co.uk |language=en}}

Manns co-authored an analysis of growth options for the UK Government's All Party Parliamentary Group for London's Planning and Built Environment, in which he proposed new orbital rail links in West London, connecting existing communities and those which could accommodate additional growth. It encouraged West London Alliance to reconsider work it had commissioned in 2001 which flagged the scope to connect Old Oak Common and Brent Cross along the Dudding Hill line. This was agreed at the following meeting of the West London Economic Prosperity Board, in December 2016,{{Cite book|url=https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g8565/Public%20reports%20pack%2006th-Dec-2016%2013.00%20West%20London%20Economic%20Prosperity%20Board.pdf?T=10|title=Agenda and Minutes|date=6 December 2016|publisher=West London Economic Prosperity Board|pages=42–43}} and the Board voted to engage the Mayor of London around a West London Orbital in June 2017,{{Cite book|url=http://democracy.brent.gov.uk/documents/g3636/Public%20reports%20pack%20Tuesday%2021-Mar-2017%2015.00%20West%20London%20Economic%20Prosperity%20Board.pdf?T=10|title=Agenda and Minutes|date=27 June 2017|publisher=West London Economic Prosperity Board|pages=21–46}} which Sadiq Khan committed himself to delivering in March 2018.{{Cite book|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/b16916/Draft%20Transport%20Strategy%20Thursday%2008-Mar-2018%2010.00%20London%20Assembly%20Plenary.pdf?T=9|title=Mayor's Transport Strategy|publisher=Greater London Authority|year=2018|location=London|pages=231}}

He was commissioned by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to prepare the first international guidance on the measurement of land and calculation of associated metrics such as density.{{Cite web|title=RICS Publishes Pioneering Guidance for Land Measurement|url=https://www.propertynotify.co.uk/news/rics-publishes-guidance-land-measurement/|last=Kersey|first=Jim|date=8 August 2019|website=Property Notify|access-date=15 May 2020}} On publication these definitions established, for the first time, a global standard for all land measurements around the world.{{Cite web|title=First global standards for land measurement released|url=https://ciat.org.uk/resource/first-global-standards-for-land-measurement-released.html|website=Chartered Institute of Architectural Technology|access-date=15 May 2020}} A draft was released for consultation in 2019.{{Cite web|last=Edgar|first=Laura|date=7 August 2019|title=Guidance issued for measuring land|url=https://www.theplanner.co.uk/news/guidance-issued-for-measuring-land|website=The Planner}} The Guidance was published in 2021.{{Cite news|last=Faizan|first=Haider|date=27 May 2021|title=RICS comes up with guidance on the measurement of land for real estate projects|work=The Economic Times (India)|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/property-/-cstruction/rics-comes-up-with-guidance-on-the-measurement-of-land-for-real-estate-projects/articleshow/83008238.cms?from=mdr|access-date=31 May 2021}}{{Cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Sebastian|date=25 May 2021|title=RICS launches new global guidance for 'Land Measurement'|work=Property Week|url=https://www.propertyweek.com/news/rics-launches-new-global-guidance-for-land-measurement/5114435.article|access-date=31 May 2021}}

Manns served as external advisor to Wellington City Council in their development of an Underground Asset Register, which became the first of its kind in New Zealand when launched in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Gourley |first=Erin |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Council a step closer to knowing what’s under Wellington’s feet |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350336871/council-step-closer-knowing-whats-under-wellingtons-feet |website=The Post}} The project, supported by the Harvard Bloomberg City Leadership Initiative, attracted controversy in the months prior to launch when senior council leaders missed key decision-making meetings to join Manns and others in New York.{{Cite web |last=Vance |first=Andrea |date=March 9, 2024 |title=Senior council staff miss key meetings for New York trip |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350206599/senior-council-staff-miss-key-meetings-new-york-trip |website=The Post}}

In 2016 he was invited to co-launch the Open City "Green Sky Thinking" week.{{Cite web|date=20 April 2016|title=Why you should go to Green Sky Thinking|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/why-you-should-go-to-green-sky-thinking/10005517.article|website=Architects' Journal}} He teaches at UCL{{Cite web|title=Honorary and Visiting Academics|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/planning/people/honorary-and-visiting-academics|date=15 November 2016|website=The Bartlett School of Planning, UCL|access-date=18 May 2020}} and is on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Urban Regeneration and Renewal.{{Cite web|title=Editorial Board - Journal of Regeneration and Renewal|url=https://www.henrystewartpublications.com/jurr/editorialboard|website=Henry Stewart Publications}} He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), the Royal Town Planning Institute (FRTPI) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS). At the time of his appointment he was believed to have been the youngest person to have been awarded Fellowship of the RTPI, and also of both the RTPI and RICS.{{Cite news|last=Newman|first=Jessica|date=19 May 2021|title=Rockwell's Jonathan Manns appointed as Fellow of the RICS|work=Property Week|url=https://www.propertyweek.com/news/rockwells-jonathan-manns-appointed-as-fellow-of-the-rics/5114329.article|access-date=31 May 2021}}

In 2015, Manns was Convenor of the UK Government's All Party Parliamentary Group for London's Planning and Built Environment.{{Cite web|title=London Society inaugurates APPG for London's Planning and Built Environment|url=https://www.theplanner.co.uk/news/london-society-inaugurates-appg-for-london’s-planning-and-built-environment|last=Edgar|first=Laura|date=23 October 2015|website=The Planner|access-date=15 May 2020}} The purpose of the APPG was defined as being "to explore the social, economic and environmental issues affecting London at a strategic level and build consensus as to the ways in which these might be addressed."{{Cite web|title=Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/180131/londons-planning-and-built-environment.htm|date=31 January 2018|website=UK Parliament|access-date=16 May 2020}} The group, chaired by Rupa Huq MP, subsequently discussed matters from the Green Belt to the Grenfell Fire.

Manns is a Patron of the Thrive Foundation, which exists as a non-partisan charitable trust to support marginalized young people as active participants and future leaders in New Zealand's civil society.{{Cite web |title=Thrive Foundation: Meet Us |url=https://thrivefoundation.co.nz/meet-us/ |access-date=28 March 2023 |website=Thrive Foundation}} He is a former member of the Advisory Board for the Patchwork Foundation, which seeks to engage those from non-traditional backgrounds in UK politics and civil society.{{Cite web |date=16 October 2018 |title=Advisory Board and Council |url=https://patchworkfoundation.org.uk/about/our-people/advisory-council-partnership-group/ |access-date=16 May 2020 |website=Patchwork Foundation}} He is a past trustee of the London Society, which was founded in 1912 to promote debate around London's built environment with members of the public.{{cite news |title=Colliers' Jonathan Manns wins RICS Young Surveyor of the Year award {{!}} netMAGmedia Ltd |url=https://www.buildingconstructiondesign.co.uk/news/colliers-jonathan-manns-wins-rics-young-surveyor-of-the-year-award/ |access-date=10 September 2020 |work=www.buildingconstructiondesign.co.uk |date=22 November 2017}} He also assisted with the Long Live Southbank campaign to protect and extend London's historic skate spot.{{Cite web|title=Thanks|url=http://www.llsb.com/thanks/|website=Long Live Southbank|access-date=17 May 2020}}

Manns is a Justice of the Peace for New Zealand and was gazetted in 2024.{{Cite web |date=28 February 2024 |title=Justices of the Peace Appointed |url=https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2024-go840 |access-date=27 March 2024 |website=New Zealand Gazette / Te Kāhiti o Aotearoa}}

Manns was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2022 "for services to Planning, Real Estate and to Built Environments".{{Cite book |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/63714/data.pdf |title=The London Gazette |publisher=By Authority of the Crown |year=2022 |edition=63714 |location=London |pages=Supplement 1, B22 |language=English}} He moved with his family to New Zealand in 2021 as his partner wanted to be closer to her mother.{{Cite web |title=How one developer swapped London for Wellington |url=https://ww3.rics.org/uk/en/journals/land-journal/Career_move_London_to_New_Zealand_for_surveyors.html |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=ww3.rics.org |language=en}} The family settled in Seatoun, a suburb of Wellington, and within two years he had been recognised as somebody who had "genuinely moved the needle" in the country.{{Cite news |last=Gourley |first=Erin |date=21 November 2022 |title=My Wellington: From crowded London to villagey Seatoun |work=Dominion Post / Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/wellington/130492335/my-wellington-from-crowded-london-to-villagey-seatoun |access-date=28 March 2023}} {{Cite web |date=9 November 2023 |title=Tākina project team scoops Supreme Award at the Wellington Property People Awards |url=https://www.propertynz.co.nz/news/takina-project-team-scoops-supreme-award-at-the-wellington-property-people-awards |access-date=25 June 2024 |website=Property Council New Zealand}}

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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of Girton College, Cambridge

Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield

Category:British expatriates in New Zealand

Category:British urban planners

Category:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire