Michael Collins Architects March (Hons) DipArch RIBA RIAS Sustainable accredited architect Project Lead

Michael has over a decade of experience leading award winning projects in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. He is a teaching fellow at the Bartlett School of Architecture UCL, and lecturer and PhD Candidate at the University of Cambridge, where he was awarded funding to carry out research on the integration of urban agriculture practices. Michael is a Trustee of the Letchworth Hertitage foundation and is a member of the steering group of an urban agriculture park.

Michael is working in collaboration with Oliver Chapman Architects, where they are currently developing a masterplan for the Astley Ainslie site in Edinburgh as well as undertaking research involving a new community market in Edinburgh for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Fraser Bell, Associate / Senior Architect

BA(Hons), DipArch, ARB, RIBA, RIAS

Conservation Architect

Fraser is an RIAS Accredited Conservation Architect with a specialised interest in the sensitive restoration and adaptive re-use of historic buildings to improve their overall sustainability.  Fraser has over 15 years of experience leading award-winning public and private projects in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Ireland. As a Senior Architect, Fraser has been responsible for successfully delivering publicly funded projects on listed buildings to a value of over £10 million as well as a wide range of experience in other sectors such as housing and community projects.

Fraser has developed a passion for working with arts and community-based clients to deliver their briefs within heritage buildings, providing him with an ability to assess the condition of historic structures, study their scope for adaptation and propose sensitive interventions in a deferential and contextual manner.

Amelie Andre, DipArch, MRes, PhD

Amelie has worked in architecture and urban planning practices for ten years, taking part in various missions ranging from urban strategy to the tendering phase of large public buildings. Her responsibilities entailed project design, task organisation, team coordination, project logistics, budget supervision, creative thinking, and time management to meet deadlines. Finding pragmatic and innovative solutions in projects are aspects she is passionate about.

She obtained MArch in 2008 from the Architecture School of Nantes and professional practice course in 2012 from the Architecture School of Lille. During her career, she has thrived by balancing practice and theory and enjoyed how they influence each other. While working as an architect in Brussels, Amelie focused on community engagement in urban regeneration projects. This enabled her to pursue a PhD with industry experience to explore urban food planning in the UK, which Amelie completed in 2024 with the University of Hertfordshire.

Hugo Whitaker, Business Development Consultant

Hugo has extensive experience in leading, managing and developing projects and organisations over the past 30 years.  Hugo has worked on various projects in the local Liberton / Gilmerton / Gracemount area, and beyond where he has raised over £1million in multi-year grants, procurement contracts and earned income from a range of funders including Scottish Government, NHS Lothian, City of Edinburgh Council and the National Lottery.

Amongst the many other projects Hugo has been involved with, during 2021 Hugo helped launch the Gracemount Walled Garden, along with Transition Edinburgh South. Gracemount Community Garden is situated on the grounds of the Gracemount Mansion site.  Hugo has raised over £400k to support Transition Edinburgh South, with some of this funding having monies allocated for the Gracemount Mansion Project, prior to GMDT becoming constituted.

Hugo was also a founder member and Chair of Balerno Village Trust, which has run a thriving farmers market since 2009, and helped launch Harlaw Hydro, a community renewables project funded by a successful community share issue. 

Sub-contracted consultants

Structural Engineers - David Narro Associates

Gary Moyes Associate MEng, Ceng, MIC. Gary has over fourteen years leading complex projects often involving listed buildings. He has an interest in architecturally driven engineering designs. 

Cost Consultants Thomson Gray

Alan Brown Senior Associate BSc MRICS. Alan has a broad depth of experience working on community based projects throughout Scotland including North Berwick Community Sports Pavilion, the multi-community group facility at St Serfs Inverleith Church Hall, and at Saughton Park. He has experience with multiple funding bodies including Heritage Lottery Fund and LEADER funding, and is well-versed in delivering high-level cost estimates for early-stage schemes and options appraisals.