Matthew Spry, Senior Director, Head of London Office, Lichfields
Matthew is a planner who specialises in residential development, including strategic land promotion through local plans, and securing permission for urban extensions, new settlements, and related infrastructure. He has also led on due diligence for several M&A transactions in the house building and land promotion sector. His team’s research and policy work is widely recognised, directly shaping Government policy and informing the Competition and Markets Authority 2024 study on housebuilding. His work for Government includes supporting the Expert Panel on the London Plan Review in 2024, advising the New Towns Taskforce in 2025 - including preparing the strategic case for New Towns and on the lessons learned from past programmes – and on use of Special Development Orders and Urgent Crown Development.
Matthew has worked for Lichfields for 25 years; and leads its 115-strong London office. Lichfields is the UK’s pre-eminent planning and development consultancy – independent, employee-owned and with over 250 people operating out of nine offices. Matthew is also a non-Executive Director of Repton Property Developments – the housing development company established by Norfolk County Council to develop its surplus land for housing – and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences
