Stuart joined Temple in 2023 as a Divisional Director – Ecology, bringing with him more than twenty-five years of experience as an ecologist and environmental impact assessment practitioner including on A303 Stonehenge (Amesbury to Berwick Down), Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), A27 Arundel Bypass and A417 Missing Link.
He has expert knowledge of UK infrastructure specifically highways and the Planning Act including lead contributions at all stages from ‘strategy, shaping and prioritisation’ through to ‘construction, commissioning and handover’, on a range of projects. He has led and held technical policy responsibilities within multi-disciplinary project design teams and as part of collaborative projects with other specialisms including engineering and landscape practitioners.
He has written or contributed to industry standards including through IEMA and CIRIA, as well as several within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges series. He also has particular expertise in the assessment of changes in air quality on ecological receptors, having provided expert advice to National Highways on this. He has experience in both supporting and acting as expert witness on ecological impact assessments. Stuart has extensive stakeholder and partnering experience including with Natural England, the Wildlife Trusts, DfT, Welsh Assembly Government, and Transport Scotland. With a passion for supporting evidence-based decision making and its practical application to the delivery of better environmental outcomes, Stuart is a Chartered Environmentalist.
Prior to joining Temple, Stuart spent eighteen years at National Highways (formerly Highways England and Highways Agency), where he specialized in environmental impact assessment, biodiversity net gain, and statutory frameworks and policy.
Outside the office, Stuart is a father, active cub leader, enjoys mountain walking and camping.
