A/Prof Lee Beattie is a practicing and registered urban designer (UDIA) and urban planner (FNZPI) with almost 30 years experience in an extensive range of urban design and urban planning matters including dealing with large scale housing and mixed used developments, infrastructure and transportation projects, and town center developments projects. He has qualifications in urban planning, urban design, and environmental science. 

He specialises in urban design policy development; implementation, masterplanning and providing professional urban design evidence. His current research interests explore the factors and barriers that are preventing the delivery of compact and quality urban form that is sustainable, resilient, liveable, meets the needs of local residents and reduces travel demand (sustainable and resilient communities) and effectiveness of transit orientated development in both the local and international (Asia/Pacific rim) context.

In 2018 he was awarded the New Zealand Planning Institute’s (NZPI) John Mawson Award of Merit for co-writing and editing (Planning Practice in New Zealand), New Zealand’s only book about planning and urban design practice in New Zealand, now in its second edition (2022) and in March 2025 he was made a Fellow of the New Zealand Planning Institute for his contributions to the profession.  Lee is an also independent Hearing Commissioner for Auckland Council, Queenstown Lakes and Kaipara District Council's.    

Committee/Professional groups/Services:

Registered Urban Designer (Urban Design Institute Aotearoa)

Fellow of the New Zealand Planning Institute (FNZPI)
Professional member of the Royal Society of New Zealand (MRSNZ)
A member of the Urban Design Forum (UDF)


Qualifications:
BPlan BSc Dip EnvMgt GradCertUrbDes (Syd) MSc (Lond) PhD FNZPI MRSNZ

Areas of Expertise:
- Urban design, urban growth management and master planning

Media Keywords:
Urban design, urban planning, housing, masterplanning