Tom Bloxham MBE is to chair the ippr's Centre for Cities' new Steering Group. The Group will oversee the Centre's strategic direction and identify key issues for future research.

Tom Bloxham MBE is chairman, joint founder and the major shareholder of the Urban Splash Group Ltd. He is one of the country's most innovative property developers; and has won 156 awards to date for design, architecture, regeneration and enterprise. He was awarded an MBE in 1998 for his services to Architecture and Urban Regeneration.

Other members of the Steering Group are:

• James Brown - Journalist and Entrepreneur
• Joanna Averley - Deputy Chief Executive, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE)
• Professor Diana Green - Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University
• James Weston - Director, ShedKM
• Stephen Ashworth - Partner, Denton Wilde Sapte.

The Steering Group will:

• review the Centre's progress on delivery, profile and impact;
• steer the future direction of the Centre's output and identify key issues for further research; and
• build on the Centre's high-level networks in government, business and specific cities.

Dermot Finch, Director Centre for Cities, said:
"We are very pleased to have Tom as Chair of our Steering Group. He's a real entrepreneur with a proven track record of success in urban regeneration. We've signed up a great team to work with Tom. They will help us build our growing reputation for shaping the UK's urban agenda."

Tom Bloxham MBE, Chair Centre for Cities' Steering Group, said:
"I'm delighted to be heading up the Centre for Cities' Steering Group. The Centre is already one of the country's leading voices on urban policy. The whole Steering Group is looking forward to working with Dermot and his team on influencing the urban debate in cities and in Whitehall."

Notes to Editors:

1. The Centre for Cities is an independent urban research unit, based at the ippr. It is taking a fresh look at how cities function, focusing on the economic drivers behind urban growth and change. The Centre is currently carrying out three research projects in Barnsley, Birmingham, Derby, Doncaster, Dundee, Liverpool, Manchester and Sunderland. City People reports in January on city-centre living. City Leadership reports in February on the case for more devolution to cities. And City Markets will report by May on business growth in deprived areas.

2. The Steering Group is:

Tom Bloxham MBE - Chairman
Chairman, Urban Splash
Tom is chairman, joint founder and major shareholder of the Urban Splash Group Ltd. He also chairs Arts Council England (North West) and is a Director of Liverpool's Capital of Culture team. Tom was awarded an MBE in 1998 for his services to Architecture and Urban Regeneration.

Stephen Ashworth
Partner, Denton Wilde Sapte
Stephen is a planning lawyer, focusing on retail proposals and redevelopment projects, such as major town centre schemes. He also works on Private Finance Initiative projects and Public/Private Partnerships schemes.

Joanna Averley
Deputy Chief Executive, CABE
Joanna was involved in the rebuilding of Manchester city centre, following the IRA bomb of 1996. She is author of a number of best practice guides including "Creating Excellent Buildings"; and is currently Interim Director of Design for the Olympic Delivery Agency.

James Brown
Journalist and Entrepreneur
James is an award-winning magazine editor. He created men's magazine Loaded in 1994, and set up IFG magazines in 1999. He is now one of the most sought after commentators on lifestyle, business development and media.

Professor Diana Green
Vice-Chancellor, Sheffield Hallam University
Diana has been Vice-Chancellor since 1998. She is also a non-executive director of Sheffield One (the Sheffield City Centre Urban Regeneration Company) and a council Member of the All-Party Parliamentary Universities Group.

James Weston
Director, ShedKM
James set up ShedKM in 1997. Current projects include re-generation of the Dunlop rubber factory near Birmingham. ShedKM is working with Urban Splash on MOHO, a modular housing scheme in Castlefield, Manchester. The agency has won several national awards including RIBA and Civic Trust.