HPA director Richard Wooldridge achieves MRTPI Status

Richard Wooldridge, director of HPA Architects has successfully passed his Assessment of Professional Competence and is now a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI).

Achieving MRTPI status is a significant professional milestone, recognising Richard’s experience and expertise in planning.

It further strengthens HPA’s multi-disciplinary offer, reinforcing the value they bring to clients through an integrated understanding of architecture, planning, heritage and development.

Richard has been an associate member of the RTPI for many years, and this final stage of the accreditation process represented a substantial commitment, requiring additional study and professional reflection.

He made the decision to wait until the conclusion of his recent role as RIBA NW regional chair, with the final assessment completed following the end of his term.

This latest achievement enhances HPA’s in-house capability, as they are now able to offer two MRTPI-qualified planners within their 20-strong team.

This sits alongside HPA's established multi-disciplinary team of architects and technologists, including a specialist conservation architect and a heritage consultant, ensuring a well-rounded and collaborative approach to project delivery.

Richard’s achievement coincides with the publication of his professional feature by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), discussing the impact of delayed planning decisions on housing delivery, and forms part of a wider industry discussion on stalled sites and the challenges facing development across the UK.

Richard acknowledged the support of colleagues and mentors throughout the process, particularly co-director Zoë Hooton, planning and heritage consultant Jess Barrow, planning consultant Lynn Bailey MRTPI, and externally, planning advisor Claire Walters MRTPI (who acted as professional mentor), and Alastair Skelton MRTPI, who supported his initial entry into the RTPI pathway.

This milestone not only represents personal progress for Richard but also underlines HPA’s continued investment in professional development and expertise across the practice.