I Interviews and Insights

James Patterson has been engaged in international urban development projects for over ten years, both for the private sector and local and national governing authorities. He has expertise in urban and regional economic strategy development; feasibility studies; implementation planning; spatial and master planning; sustainable urban development; and area-based economic assessment. He is particularly interested in the role economic zones can play in developing green industrial clusters in growing cities. James has frequently lectured on urban economic development and cities at Imperial College London, LSE Cities and as a guest lecturer at Columbia GSAPP. James has successfully led important projects for clients including the IFC, World Bank, EBRD, United Nations, IDB, HM Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Irish Aid. As a recognised expert in the field of SEZ feasibility, his work has included SEZ strategy, incentives design and numerous industrial demand studies for economic zones throughout the developing world. Most recently he has led a study for the UK Government on the potential for Free Zones post-Brexit. James leads the Cities and Infrastructure practice at Vivid Economics, a specialist economics consultancy based in London, UK. Prior to joining Vivid, he worked for BuroHappold Engineering and Arup in Shenzhen, China. James holds an MPhil in Environmental Planning from the University of Cambridge, as well as an MSc in Construction and Development Economics from University College London. Additionally, James holds a BA (Hons) in Architecture from the University of Liverpool and has studied at Tsinghua University, Beijing. James is a Member of the Institute of Economic Development and an elected Academician of the Academy of Urbanism (AoU).