Russ Porter is Senior Associate Economist at Peter Brett Associates LLP in Bristol. He has worked in economic development for 20 years, including the last six in his current role.
As a consultant, Russ specialises in managing viability and site delivery research informing masterplans, site allocations, S106 negotiations and Local Plan policies. Through his extensive work for planning authorities, developers and landowners, Russ has gained a real depth of practical and applied knowledge of economic factors that both drive and discourage development. “Any firm which is serious about economic development is a member of the Institute of Economic Development (IED),” Russ said. “We’ve been a corporate member of the IED for the past three years, and this includes three individual memberships of which I have one. Having the MIED letters as one of our strands of professional recognition is helping to breed confidence amongst those who we are working with.”
Russ explained how he has utilised the opportunities brought by IED events, including the annual conference and a recent event in Bristol. “The IED annual conference always has a very good network of people to speak with – it is an established date in the calendar and also counts towards my own CPD,” he said. “The locally-based event brought another opportunity to meet with local authorities and local consultancies that we are able to do business with.”
The IED can play a big role in the development of colleagues at Peter Brett Associates, Russ added: “We operate in three areas: planning, development and economics – providing evidence base studies, advice on site delivery, placemaking and economic development through growing places. Through the IED, its own expertise and that of fellow members, we can really keep our fingers on the pulse of what matters.”