Richard coles - director, planner
Richard founded Momentum Planning and Design (Momentum) at the start of 2016 following a 23-year planning career in both local government and the consultancy sector. He has worked on a range of multidisciplinary projects such as Special Housing Areas, industrial and commercial developments, master planning, subdivision, project feasibility, due diligence as well as working on smaller projects.
Richard is often the lead consultant on large planning projects and developments. He has an ability to see the big picture and takes a strategic and collaborative approach to solving complex problems. During the last three years he has been involved in four Special Housing Area developments within the Tauranga Area. He has a keen interest in the affordable housing sector and appreciates good urban design.
As an expert witness, Richard represents clients at local Council hearings and the Environment Court. He has been involved in several appeals, many of which are resolved through mediation.
Richard's passion is assisting clients to achieve their goals navigating them through strategic planning processes, policy development, master planning and acquiring resource consents.
AMANDA MOORE - PLANNER
Amanda is a Resource Management Planner previously from Wellington, having worked in local government and private sectors for 5 years. During this time, she has been involved in a range of planning work including the assessment of complex planning applications, monitoring multiple resource consents and reviews of plan change submissions. Some of the consenting projects she has undertaken include comprehensive multi-unit developments, alterations to heritage buildings, small- and large-scale subdivisions and a wide range of residential developments.
Amanda has experience working alongside a variety of technical and professional disciplines. She enjoys working with clients through the planning process to help them obtain their consent and reach a positive outcome.
VINCENT MURPHY - SENIOR PLANNER
Vincent joined Momentum as a Senior Planner in 2021 with a background in consultancy and local government planning roles in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Vince originally moved to Tauranga at a young age and is excited to be back again, working in resource management primarily in the development sector.
Vince has successfully worked with a range of clients and authorities to facilitate planning approvals for small and large-scale housing schemes, town centre and heritage-sensitive developments, park regeneration, contamination remediation, and transport, water, telecommunications, and energy infrastructure. Vince is passionate about getting the most out of development opportunities for his clients, seeking to ensure all stakeholders are brought together on the journey to deliver on client requirements whilst ensuring of proposed solutions have integrity and are robust. Identification of constraints and opportunities to projects early is at the centre of Vince’s approach. He enjoys working at the coalface of development in addressing the detailed and technical, and equally the strategic, components of planning.
Vince undertakes work including effects and policy assessments, development feasibility analysis, public and stakeholder engagement, presentation of planning assessments and client representation at hearings, project management and coordination of multi-disciplinary project teams. When not working, Vince has a keen interest in many sports.
Pascal tibbits - LANDSCAPE AND URBAN DESIGNER
Pascal has worked in the field of landscape design and also architecture for the last 30 years. He has a natural ability to capture site opportunities and develop credible design solutions to complex sites, often helping create wonderful spaces that connect with the proposed built form and hard landscaping associated with projects. He has an innate skill in plant and tree placement taking a medium- and long-term view of the landscape design and how it will mature over time. His previous employment as an architectural designer for residential homes also means he understands the architectural placement of buildings and can make recommendations early to ensure successful and integrated design outcomes are achieved. This skill set means he also has a natural ability to assess projects through an urban design lens adding valuable recommendations to residential and commercial project concepts.