'Maverick' former planning chief lands job as professor

HE oversaw some of Edinburgh's biggest and most controversial developments during his four-year reign as the city's planning convener.

And now former councillor Trevor Davies is to pass on his knowledge of urban design as an honorary professor at Glasgow University.

Under his new role, Professor Davies will give occasional lectures and seminars, as well as helping supervise post-graduate students at the department of urban studies.

He will also work alongside university colleagues on two special projects designed to educate chief executives and senior council staff in the art of "city-making" and to encourage residents and businesses to improve the areas they live in.

Professor Davies, who was head of the Capital's planning committee before failing to win re-election last year, said he was looking forward to passing on his experience.

"It is a great honour to be asked by Glasgow University to take up this post," he said.

"It will enable me to share with others – and particularly with students who are considering planning as a career – some of the many lessons that I learnt leading the planning and development of the capital city.

"The university asked me whether I would be interested in the position last autumn and I am delighted that it has finally been confirmed. They wanted someone with 'real world' experience and I was only too happy to agree to take the post."

He added: "I learned a massive amount in the four years I spent as Edinburgh's planning convener and during that time there were many huge development projects that were started. I'm very proud of being involved in kick-starting the redevelopment of the St James Centre, the Granton and Leith waterfront developments and the regeneration of Fountainbridge, which are all huge projects for Edinburgh

"Hopefully I will be able to pass many of those experiences on."

Prof Davies will hold his new post, which does not carry a university salary, for the next five years.

However, his appointment has raised a few eyebrows in Edinburgh from campaigners opposed to the controversial Caltongate development – at whom Professor Davies infamously delivered a one-finger salute in 2006.

One commentator, Julie Logan, the spokeswoman for the Save Our Old Town group said that she was "astounded" to hear the news.

She said: "I think it is quite insulting to give a maverick like Trevor Davies, who has such little understanding of planning and urban design, a position like that. I astounded and cannot believe that he has been offered something like that."

Since failing to win re-election to the council, Prof Davies, a former TV producer who helped bring Hamish Macbeth to the small screen, has been involved as a freelance planning consultant and speaker.

During his tenure as planning leader, he was a director of a number of prestigious groups in Edinburgh, including the Edinburgh City Centre Management Company, Edinburgh World Heritage and the Waverley Station Project Board.