Jay Morton for RIBA President

Jay MortonCV

Bio

BioJay Morton is a Director at Bell Phillips Architects, where she leads on design delivery, practice strategy, and business development. Her work focuses on delivering high-quality, socially responsive housing and public realm projects that prioritise community, long-term value, and design quality. Jay has led the design of projects across the UK, including Smithfield Plot 4A, a 408-home development in Birmingham; Victoria Point, a landmark student housing newbuild and retrofit scheme in Manchester; a 126-home later living project in Portishead; the resident-led Marklake Court in Bermondsey; and Newham Housing, a pattern book of infill homes across the Borough.

She sits on design review panels in Islington, Ealing, Croydon and Salford and is a member of the Labour Housing Group Executive. She is also on the steering group for the Architects' Action for Affordable Housing campaign, advocating for systemic change in how housing is delivered.

Jay is an active voice in the profession, regularly contributing to public debate on housing, planning, and the role of architecture in society. She has appeared on BBC Radio and BBC London and in industry publications including Architecture Today. She is the founder and host of the Architects For Change Podcast, where she interviews leaders across the built environment and beyond. Her political engagement includes standing as the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Chichester in 2019 and currently standing to be Labour councillor in Lewisham. Alongside practice and politics, she is committed to education and mentoring, having led a design think tank at the LSA and previously taught at the University for the Creative Arts Canterbury.

Her work is grounded in the belief that architecture sits at the intersection of design, policy, and society, and that a stronger, more outward-looking profession is essential to delivering better homes and better places.

Employment History

Islington Design Review Panel — Panelist

Croydon Place Review Panel — Panelist

Ealing Design Review Panel — Panelist

Salford Design Review Forum — Panelist

Bell Phillips Architects : Director

Responsible for overseeing a number of projects within the practice for both the public and private sector. Works closely with the London Boroughs of Newham, Lewisham, Southwark, Greenwich and Brent. Projects include: Florence Road & Pitchford St, new family homes for the London borough of Newham; 27 new homes at Marklake Court in Bermondsey; a Masterplan for 300 homes in Staines; as well as directly running a 126 unit scheme overseeing a team of 4 people. Jay is part of the management team involved with new business, networking, resourcing, appointments and fee negotiation.

DTT Lead, London School of Architecture

Leading group of 6 students through their DTT module at the LSA. Responsible for setting the brief, and guiding students through their research. The aim for the DTT research is to produce ideas for London and contribute to real practice.

University of Creative Arts, Canterbury — First Year Design Tutor

Tutoring 16 students for their first year Design unit as part of their qualification to become an Architect.

Rummey Design — Part 2 Architectural Assistant

Overseeing planning applications for Victory Place, a mixed use scheme in Crystal Palace; Dorset Green, a large scale masterplan for new homes; and Jarvis house, a private residential scheme.

Metropolitan Workshop — Part 1 Architectural Assistant

Worked on a mixture of masterplans in Ireland and Norway as well as a museum in Libya, an office development in Romford and housing development in Derry.

Education & Qualifications

London Metropolitan University — RIBA Part 3

University College London — DipArch / MArch Architecture

University College London — BSc Architecture

Publications, Campaigns, Events & Programmes

Labour Housing Group Executive Committee

Labour & Cooperative Party Councillor Candidate

Brockley, Lewisham.

Architects Action For Affordable Housing Campaign

Steering Group Member.

Architects for Change Podcast

open.spotify.com/show/0xKnikJZVxby6nMS5QVJ14

Report Forward — Safe & Abundant

Reforming the BSR to solve the Housing Crisis. Read the report.

Architects Aware — Design Guide for Temporary Accommodation

This document was shared with the GLA to inform policy. architectsaware.com

Glass Ceiling not Glass Slipper I

Jay and a fellow Fabian Women Mentee arranged a series of talks held at the House of Commons. These talks set out to raise, discuss, problem solve and strategise one of a number of key concerns facing women who hope to smash through and be our future leaders.

Generation Rent #VentYourRent Campaign UK

Jay was part of the team leading the first campaign in 2016, which is now a regular event.