Pioneer of urban design steps down as Deputy Leader

19 April 2011

Councillor Daniel Moylan has today announced that, with effect from after the Council meeting on 20 April, he is stepping down as Deputy Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Cabinet Member for Planning Policy in order to become the full-time Deputy Chairman of Transport for London (TfL).

As a Cabinet Member, Daniel Moylan has been a pioneer of the shared space and single surface approach to urban design, an approach he has outlined in numerous articles and speeches and also put into practice. Councillor Moylan was the catalyst for the transformation of Kensington High Street, a scheme which garnered multiple awards, and also for the fundamental redesign of South Kensington and Exhibition Road, probably the UK's most exciting live streetscape project.

In 2007 he was made an honorary fellow of Britain's top architecture body, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in recognition of his contribution to urban design in London.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Sir Merrick Cockell, who received the news of Councillor Moylan's resignation with regret, paid tribute to his contribution to life in the borough saying, "In Kensington and Chelsea and in the capital, the case for improving our public spaces has had no more articulate or determined advocate than Daniel Moylan. I am confident that TfL will reap the benefits of his vision and attention to detail."

Cllr Moylan has been Deputy Leader of the Council for 11 years, the longest serving Deputy Leader since the Royal Borough was formed. He will continue to serve the people of Queen's Gate as a Councillor. Councillor Nicholas Paget-Brown will take over as Deputy Leader; Councillor Tim Ahern becomes Cabinet Member for Planning Policy while Councillor Rock Feilding-Mellen joins the Cabinet and will take the portfolio for Civil Society which deals with localism, community safety, business and the voluntary sector.