Urban Planning & Research

Dina
Negash

recent MSc candidate — Regional & Urban Studies, LSE

Researcher and planning consultant focused on the intersection of infrastructure equity, housing policy, and urban regeneration. Currently completing a Masters dissertation on spatial inequality in New Zealand.

Dina Negash
538
homes analysed,
Walthamstow
2
countries of
urban research
LSE
MSc 2025–2026

Where policy meets place

I am an urban planning researcher and consultant with a background spanning public communications, GIS spatial analysis, and statutory planning practice. My work sits at the intersection of policy frameworks and the lived realities they create — or fail to create — for communities.

At LSE, my graduate practicum placed me at the centre of one of London's most scrutinised regeneration schemes, where I evaluated planning trade-offs between housing delivery, democratic accountability, and design quality. My dissertation takes these themes internationally, interrogating how infrastructure appraisal frameworks in New Zealand may entrench the very inequalities they claim to address.

GIS Spatial Analysis Section 106 & S73 Design & Access Statements London Plan Policy Viability Assessment Community Engagement Adobe Illustrator Microsoft PowerPoint Premiere Pro Strategic Communications
Selected Work

Planning appraisals & research

Masters Dissertation 2025–2026

Infrastructure Appraisal & Spatial Inequality in New Zealand

Examining how fiscally rational infrastructure investment frameworks may reproduce inherited spatial inequalities across New Zealand, and what this reveals about the geographic distribution of economic opportunity.

Spatial Equity Infrastructure Policy New Zealand
GIS Spatial Analysis 2026

Brownfield Accessibility & Urban Integration Mapping

Produced GIS spatial analysis evaluating accessibility, land use integration, and infrastructure connectivity for a major mixed-use brownfield site in London, assessing planning trade-offs between housing delivery, regeneration objectives, and community impacts.

GIS Mapping Land Use Analysis PTAL Assessment
Featured Report

17&Central, Walthamstow — Evidence in Full

Selected visual excerpts from a professional planning appraisal of the 17&Central mixed-use regeneration scheme, Walthamstow, London.

Walthamstow Station render

CGI render of the completed scheme adjacent to Walthamstow Central Station

Town square redevelopment render

Town square redevelopment with retained lime trees and new public realm

Residential towers

Completed residential towers, Phase 1 (2025)

538
New homes delivered
18%
Affordable housing delivered
vs 35% GLA benchmark
£7.3m
Financial contribution to off-site affordable housing
948
Written public objections received
2,000+
Residents signed petition opposing the development
4 yrs
From initial application to final approval (2017–2021)
Planning Timeline
Planning process timeline

Key milestones from initial 2017 application through GLA intervention, final approval, and phased delivery

Public Engagement & Democratic Oversight
Public engagement findings

Analysis of consultation outcomes and the limits of democratic objection in strategic housing delivery

Housing Viability Negotiations
Housing viability and negotiations

Affordable housing shortfall justified through viability assessment — a recurring tension in the English planning system

Recommendations
Five recommendations for reform

Five targeted reforms for the English planning system

Site Context

The 17&Central site is immediately adjacent to Walthamstow Central Station — one of northeast London's most significant transport interchanges, with a PTAL rating of 6b (the highest designation in Transport for London's accessibility framework). The site's location made it one of the most strategically suitable sites for high-density residential development in the borough.

Walthamstow Town Centre site map

Walthamstow Town Centre Area Action Plan boundary showing the site location

Education

Academic foundations

London School of Economics
Sept 2025 — Sept 2026
MSc Candidate — Regional and Urban Planning Studies

Dissertation: Examining the extent to which New Zealand's infrastructure investment frameworks reproduce inherited spatial inequalities through fiscally rational appraisal, and what this reveals about the distribution of economic opportunity. Graduate practicum embedded within a live LSE-linked planning consultancy, producing a formal appraisal for MHCLG.

American University
School of Communications
Graduated May 2023
BA Public Relations — Minor in Business & Entertainment

Developed strategic communications, media outreach, and brand management expertise, with coursework spanning business strategy and the entertainment industry. Foundation for interdisciplinary work at the intersection of public policy and public narrative.

Experience

Where I've worked

London School of Economics
London, UK
Jan 2026 — May 2026
Planning Consultant — Graduate Practicum
  • Delivered a professional planning appraisal of a major mixed-use brownfield housing redevelopment in London, analysing planning applications, Section 106 and Section 73 policy compliance, and alignment with the London Plan.
  • Interpreted statutory planning documents including Design and Access Statements, borough local plans, and development proposals to assess planning outcomes against policy benchmarks.
  • Produced GIS spatial analysis evaluating accessibility, land use, and integration with surrounding urban infrastructure; assessed planning trade-offs between housing delivery, regeneration objectives, and community impacts.
Jetson Group
Northland, New Zealand
Oct 2023 — Jun 2024
Administrative Assistant (Media)
  • Freelanced social media strategy for multiple hospitality clients across Northland, providing consulting for rebrands, new menu launches, and brand imaging — resulting in a 60% increase in social media engagement.
  • Developed and executed comprehensive marketing plans enhancing brand visibility and customer engagement, achieving a 40% boost in client traffic.
Anacostia Youth Media Festival
Washington, DC
Jan 2023 — May 2023
Media Outreach Administrator
  • Led a team to build a comprehensive media list, securing event coverage across 15 community calendars and media outlets.
  • Conducted on-site school visits to distribute promotional materials, significantly enhancing event awareness and attendance.

Let's talk about cities, policy, and what comes next.

Phone
+1 (203) 524-6404
Open to
Planning consultancy, policy research, roles in urban planning & housing