Laura Easton

Laura has over 30 years’ practice in housing economics, policy and research. She is a specialist in the delivery of affordable housing as well as self and custom housebuilding and specialist housing for older people. She has wide experience of undertaking research and modelling demand for these types of housing, working closely with councils and the private sector to maximise delivery and understand the role of different tenures in the local housing market. Along with Lin Cousins, she developed a model for assessing demand for self and custom housebuilding that can be used to inform planning decisions and policy making. Laura is retained as policy advisor and secretary to the Retirement Housing Group.

Laura’s expertise in financial viability modelling includes studies at both at site specific & policy level. This includes working with key stakeholders to fully assess the provision of infrastructure  and negotiating/assessing its impact on housing delivery generally and also on core policies such as affordable housing. Laura has led and project managed numerous whole plan and CIL viability studies, most recently including  New Forest National Park, Dartmoor National Park, Salford City Council, Uttlesford District Council, North Essex Authorities, East Lindsey District Council and New Forest District Council. She is experienced in representing viability evidence at examination and Public Inquiry.

As the impact of climate change becomes a world-wide emergency Laura has worked with a number of clients, including local authorities and Welsh Government, to explore the best ways of delivering new housing or updating existing residential stock that is fit for the future.

Prior to joining Three Dragons Laura worked in a strategic function for a local authority as well as in policy and service development for a large national housing charity.