Michael Hartley Dip Arch RIBA - Director
Michael joined the practice as a Chartered Architect in 1978 having previously worked for Lancashire County Council.
He became an Equity Partner in 1986, and was elected as Senior Partner in April, 2004.
Michael has worked on a varied portfolio of projects during his career including: Educational, ecclesiastical, residential, recreational, commercial, retail and defence projects. In more recent years, he has developed a considerable experience in both education and conservation based projects.
His major clients include: Blackburn Diocese, Liverpool Archdiocese, Salford Diocese, Lancaster Diocese, The Methodist Church, University of Central Lancashire, Stonyhurst College, Bae Systems, Tesco plc, and Brookhouse plc.
Michael is appointed as:
- Cathedral Architect at the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist.
- Architect to Stonyhurst College, and St Mary's Hall, Clitheroe
- Area Surveyor to Liverpool Archdiocese in Lancashire.
- A member of the Historic Churches Committee for the North West.
Dave Cockrell Dip Arch RIBA - Director
Having attended Wigan Grammar School, Dave was a student at the School of Architecture at Huddersfield Polytechnic, graduating in 1975.
Primarily his post graduate experience has been in private practice, initially in Wigan, Liverpool and Bolton before joining Cassidy + Ashton in 1978.
Working on a wide range of residential, education, sports and leisure related projects, Dave became an Associate Partner in 1981, becoming an Equity Partner in 1986
In recent years his experience has widened to take in several projects of notable historic interest, together with educational buildings and residential developments.
His responsibilities within the practice include quality management, health & safety (having been instrumental in setting up one of the practice's subsidiary companies specialising in this field) and human resources, and he continues to expand his management interests generally.
Alistair Baines BA(Hons) BArch RIBA - Director
Alistair joined the practice in 1988 having graduated from the University of Manchester.
He was instrumental in developing the Cad system for the practice becoming group IT manager in 1992.
In the early part of his career, Alistair enjoyed a varied portfolio of projects, ranging from ecclesiastical, to education, sports and leisure, to ministry of defence and several commercial schemes.
At the age of 32 Alistair was awarded an Associateship allowing him to further develop a growing business, particularly on the Fylde coast. During the late 1990s he completed a number of significant projects as architect to Blackpool Borough Council gaining a Civic Trust award for excellence in design for Palatine Library in Blackpool.
Having successfully completed one of the country's first Surestart centres in Blackpool, Alistair broadened the practice's portfolio securing several children's centres throughout the North West and the Midlands.
In 2002 Alistair was offered equity partnership, responsible for co-ordinating and programming resources and workload across the practice.
Phil Gornall BSc MRICS - Director
Phil joined the Practice as an under-graduate Building Surveyor in 1988, whilst studying on the RICS accredited building surveyors' degree course at UCLAN.
He graduated from University and was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 1994.
In the early part of his career, Phil gained a vast range of experience in all aspects of building surveying whilst working on the practice's BT consultancy commission. This included defect analysis, contract administration, dilapidations, refurbishment and repair works, as well as general day to day maintenance issues.
In the late 1990s, Phil became involved in the practice's work with various dioceses including works on schools, churches and parish property. This culminated in the management of the Stock Condition Surveys of all properties for the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
In 1997, Phil was awarded Associateship of the practice with the responsibility for the management and development of the building surveying division of the Preston office. This appointment enabled him to further develop the education, Ecclesiastical, commercial and residence arm of the practice, and forge links with commercial agents, diocese property managers and residential property owners.
In 2002 Phil became an equity partner in the practice with overall responsibility for the building surveying portfolio across the group.
The Building Surveying division has extended the range of services available and now has expertise in additional areas of work such as party wall matters, dilapidations claiming, DDA inspections and reports, quinquennial inspections, CDM co-ordinators' duties, fire risk assessment works and insurance work, as well as the core services offered.
Peter Harris Dip Arch RIBA MA - Director
After attending Stretford Grammar School, Peter began work in a small architectural practice in Manchester, where he was employed as an architectural assistant for five years. During this period, Peter attended day release courses at Manchester Building College and became a qualified architectural technician, providing a sound technical basis for informing building designs. This led to being accepted on the B.A. Architecture course at the University of Central England in Birmingham, where Peter achieved the qualifications of B.A. (Hons) Architecture, Post Graduate Diploma, M.A in Architecture, and ultimately ARIBA. During the summer vacations from University Peter was employed by Stephenson Architecture in Manchester.
After graduating in 1994 Peter began working for a number of large private practices in Manchester, including Leslie Jones Architects, OMI, and Holford Associates., before joining Cassidy + Ashton in 1997.
Working on a wide range of commercial, retail, residential, education, community and leisure-related projects Peter became an Associate Partner in 2001.
Since 1997, Peter has lived in the South Lakes area and has become involved in a number of projects across Cumbria and the Lake District, Northumberland and North Yorkshire. This has helped provide a new geographical range to the Cassidy + Ashton area of works, which now stretches across the UK.
In recent years Peter's experience has widened to take in several large commercial projects, including the a large mixed-use development in Preston featuring a 24-storey glass tower proposal, in addition to a number of Surestart Children's Centres and various residential developments.
Peter has experience of dealing with English Heritage and other interested parties in both historically sensitive and high impact proposals, including Grade 1 listed buildings.
David Moore Dip Arch RIBA - Director
David is a Director of the C+A Group and joined the practice in Preston in 1987. David was appointed a Director in 2005.
David assisted the establishment and development of Cassidy + Ashton's Chester office where he has been managing the Architectural projects for the last four years.
David has completed projects of a wide variety of types for both public and private sectors. In recent years his main area of specialism has been on education projects, particularly in the public sector and this has brought him a wealth of experience, completing both new-build and refurbishment projects.
David is involved in projects from inception through to completion and consistently meets clients' deadlines and delivers results through close client contact, consistent management procedures, expertise and good customer relationships.
Iain Scales Dip Arch Dip Env Planning RIBA ARIAS - Director
Iain joined the practice in 1989 having had previous experience in both private practice and local government in the UK and overseas.
In addition to his architectural qualifications, he has a post graduate qualification in environmental planning. His planning background has been put to use in the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments for larger-scale development sites in the Leyland area.
Iain has a wealth of specialist knowledge in the spectrum of industrial-sector projects and has also designed many specialist facilities for the Greater Manchester Police Authority.
Iain has a detailed understanding of, and a client-focussed approach to design and build contracts, and fast-track programmes for new-build, extensions, and refurbishment projects.
Dave Owen BSc MRICS Ma PS - Director
David is a Director of the C+A Group and has been working as a building surveyor for over ten years. He has been involved in all aspects of surveying from building and defect surveys through to new-build and refurbishment projects.
David assisted to establish and develop Cassidy + Ashton's Chester office where he has been managing the building surveying projects for the last four years.
His main areas of specialism are design and management of refurbishment works, defect analysis, project management and disabled access reports/works.
David consistently meets clients' deadlines and delivers results through close client contact, consistent management procedures, expertise and good customer relationship. David has a wealth of experience completing both new-build and refurbishment projects for major clients in the commercial, education, healthcare and private sectors. He is also an approved CDM Coordinator and experienced in health and safety and CDM procedures.
Alban Cassidy BA(Hons)Cert. Ecol MSc MIEMA MRTPI C.Env - Director
Alban has been the Director of CA Planning for almost 10 years, having previously worked in planning and environmental consultancy elsewhere. Alban is both a chartered town planner and a chartered environmentalist, giving him extensive knowledge of the major issues pertaining to development.
A native of Preston, Alban has experience of working throughout Great Britain and on the Isle of Man. As such he has a detailed knowledge and understanding of the different approaches to development proposals that local authorities adopt. Accordingly Alban has been successful with development proposals all over the country including both central London and the Highlands of Scotland.
Alban's key skills are in managing major development, retail assessment and environmental impact assessment.
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