James Caird - Biography
James Caird was born and brought up in Canada and completed his education in England. He read Architecture at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, qualifying as an architect in 1972 and as a planner in 1980.
James Caird's career started at Northumberland County Council followed by posts at The Banks Partnership, Bicester; Aylesbury Vale District Council; COMTECHSA, Liverpool and the Salford and Trafford Groundwork Trust. From 1985 to 2006 he was Head of Planning for South Shropshire District Council.
James Caird has always taken an active part in professional affairs. During the 1980s, he was Chairman of the Wasteland Forum and served on the Council of the Town and Country Planning Association. From 1990 to 1996 he was a member of the RIBA's Planning Advisory Group.
James was an active member of the District Planning Officers Society, serving on several Committees. When the former Planning Officers Societies merged in 1997 to form the Planning Officers Society, he was the new Society's second President in 1998-99. Subsequently, he has served on the Design and Delivery Committee of the Society.
In 2005-06, James was a member of the Government's Affordable Rural Housing Commission and is currently a member of CABE's Planning Forum.
James was a contributor to City Fights: Debates on Urban Sustainability James and James, 2001 (ISBN 1-902916-17-4) and has been a speaker on design, planning and sustainability topics at many conferences and seminars.
As well as being a registered architect, James Caird is a member of three professional bodies:
He is also a member of:
James Caird's leisure interests include music, art, photography and gardening.