Paul Shadarevian QC has been invited to join the board of Urban Catalyst in a non-executive capacity

28 Oct 2020

Paul Shadarevian QC has been invited to join the board of Urban Catalyst in a non-executive capacity to assist in promoting consensus projects that have, as their main objective, the delivery of class leading, environmentally sound, socially inclusive regeneration schemes in partnership and collaboration with the public sector.

Paul will continue to be a fully practising member of Cornerstone Barristers, offering the full range of his planning, local government and environmental law services to Chamber’s public, commercial and private clients alike.

The official press release follows: 

“Urban Catalyst appoints planning expert to board of new sister company

  • Paul Shadarevian QC has over 35 years’ experience practising environmental and planning law
  • Shadarevian will sit as a non-exec board member of Urban Catalyst Developments, a new business
  • Urban Catalyst Developments to focus on new projects in the UK and Europe

Urban Catalyst, one of the joint venture partners behind the £1bn regeneration of Purfleet-on-Thames town centre, has appointed one of the UK’s foremost authorities in environmental and planning law as a non-executive board member to its new sister company, Urban Catalyst Developments.

Paul Shadarevian QC, who is and will remain a fully practising member of leading planning and environmental chambers Cornerstone Barristers, has more than 35 years’ experience in practising planning law, advising both public sector and private sector clients. He was previously a partner at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright before practising as a barrister and Queen’s Counsel.

Urban Catalyst Developments has been created by Urban Catalyst to progress projects in the UK outside of Purfleet-on-Thames, as well as opportunities in Europe. Shadarevian will help the new company deliver best-in-class developments in conjunction with public sector partners.  

During his career, Shadarevian has worked on a number of landmark projects including the London Gateway Local Development Order and the redevelopment of City Hall in London. He has also advised Purfleet Centre Regeneration Limited, the joint venture between Urban Catalyst and Swan Housing Group that is driving the regeneration of Purfleet-on-Thames town centre in collaboration with Thurrock Council.

Shadarevian’s appointment as a non-executive board member at Urban Catalyst Developments comes soon after Urban Catalyst announced Professor Trevor Davies, co-founder of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, as chief sustainability adviser.

Professor Davies, who was previously the Director of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, will also be advising Urban Catalyst Developments, and help both firms  respond to growing concerns about the link between public health and environmental issues such as air quality.

Ken Dytor, founder of Urban Catalyst and Urban Catalyst Developments, said: “Paul Shadarevian brings with him a wealth of experience and unrivalled knowledge of the workings of both the public and private sectors that will be of immense value to Urban Catalyst Developments going forward.

“The pandemic has brought to light the need to reimagine our towns and cities as spaces that are more human, healthy and sustainable, which will create new opportunities for urban regeneration across the UK and Europe.

“We will look forward to working closely with Paul and his presence within the Urban Catalyst family, alongside Professor Trevor Davies, will be a real asset to us as we look to grow our development pipeline.”

Paul Shadarevian QC said: “Urban Catalyst has long been a business I’ve admired thanks to its creative and collaborative approach to property development, and so I am delighted to be joining the board of its new sister company Urban Catalyst Developments as a non-executive member and look forward to assisting with future projects.””