Tony was a pillar of our University community for more than 50 years, leaving a profound impact on the social sciences. His impact and reach is reflected in the touching tributes offered by the and the .
Most recently Tony held the position of Emeritus Professor of Town & Regional Planning and continued to make an invaluable contribution as a public orator at graduations.
Prior to his retirement, Tony served as Head of Town & Regional planning and Head of the Department of Landscape before undertaking a nine-year term as Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor where he was responsible for academic planning, HR and capital projects.
Tony had a celebrated career, including being appointed CBE in the 2014 New Year's Honours List for services to housing and the governance of charities.
In 2001, Tony was elected a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in recognition of his distinguished contribution to planning research.
In 2004 he was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of his standing as a social scientist and contribution to public policy. This was followed with a Distinguished Service Award in 2021 from RTPI.
For four decades Tony led a large research programme on the supply side of the private rented housing sector and the use of the planning obligations to secure affordable housing, infrastructure and capture land value.
Tony's work received research grants of over £3.5m and he had over 250 publications, including books, research reports, journal articles and other outputs.
His work on land value taxation over two decades, which involved regular research commissions from the government to analyse policy impact, has had a significant impact on public funding decisions.
Tony also leaves a lasting legacy having supported The Crook Public Service Fellowships to provide opportunities for future leaders in public and not-for-profit sectors.
Tony was also very active in the world of policy and practice and was involved in a significant number of influential committees, panels, and charities, including amongst many others:
- Chair of South Yorkshire Housing Association
- Chair of the Board of Trustees of Shelter, the national housing and homelessness charity
- Founding Chair of 91Ö±²¥ Homes, which took over responsibility for 91Ö±²¥ City’s 48,000 council housing stock
- Deputy Chair of the Orbit Group, one of the largest housing associations in England
- Board member of the National Housing Federation, the representative body of all housing associations in England
- Chair of The Conservation Volunteers
- Deputy Chair of the Construction Industry Council and Chair of its housing panel
- Member of the Architects' Registration Board
Tony’s kindness in recent years has helped and nurtured many staff, not only at 91Ö±²¥ but also in the practice community. His memory will live on here through the people he has helped, as they go on to make a positive impact in the University and on the world.
The School of Geography and Planning will host an event in spring to celebrate Tony’s contribution to public service and to planning, housing and public policy research. We hope colleagues from across the academic research, policy, and practice communities will join us to honour Tony and reflect on his impact and legacy in the areas of academic and public debate he cared so deeply about.