Urb was founded by Richard Hamilton in 2009, and has continued to work with a range of public and private sector clients in Ireland and England over the last 4 years including Digital Realty Trust, National Roads Authority, Carlow County Council, Sligo Chamber of Commerce, Dublin City BID and Greater London Authority.

Urb provides core Town Planning services such as Planning Applications, Appeals and procedural advice. Urb offers considerable expertise and experience in Environmental Assessment, both at project level (EIA) and plan level (Strategic Environmental Assessment).

Urb is particularly dedicated to Town Centre Management and Town Centre renewal. As an associate member of the Institute of Place Management we provide a niche service for communities, local authorities and partnership organisations in developing actions plans, town centre strategies and innovative mechanisms, all designed to address town centre vacancy and decline.

Richard Hamilton has extensive experience in  the preparation and management of local and strategic plans, cognisant the growing environmental obligations facing local authorities and developers (including SEA, Habitats Directive Assessment, flood risk and sustainability targets). 

With a track record in respected firms such as RPS Planning and Environment and Colin Buchanan and Partners, he provides expert advice in planning procedure, retail, master planning and social infrastructure to a wide range of clients.  Areas of practice have included project management and advice in the co-ordination of planning applications, as well as all aspects of environmental and impact assessments, for major retail, commercial, and residential development projects.  Richard has acted for clients on numerous appeals and appeared as an expert witness in oral hearings and property arbitration.

Richard Hamilton is a Chartered Town Planner with 17 years experience and is member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Irish Planning Institute (IPI) and an Associate Member of the Institute of Place Management (IPM).