As well as leading on Hadley’s communications, engagement, meanwhile and social impactstrategies, Matt is co-founder of the Have Your Say digital engagement platform. The software, which enables enhanced online participation in the planning process, spun out of the mixed-use developer’s desire to ensure that London’s differing demographics remain influential and informed throughout the pre-application phase. 

This was an issue which was obviously exacerbated by the enforced shift to digital-first consultation methods which Covid-19 created. More imaginative and creative ways were required in order to present a development’s narrative –something which the Hadley team met head on, with more than 1500 homes unanimously consented in the first half of 2021 alone. 

He arrived in the property industry in his early thirties, with Matt's earlier ventures as musician, manager and liaison to the creative industries helping him develop a wide-ranging set of transferrable skills which have proved invaluable across several Hadley schemes.Immediately prior to joining Hadley, he was heavily involved in the arts-based 'community living' projects in both Haringey and Hackney, campaigning successfully for a reclassification of live/work arts spaces which had been threatened with closure.