Jim Coleman

Jim Coleman is Head of Economic Advisory at WSP, and is a Professor of Professional Practice in the School of Architecture & Cities. 

An expert in urban economic development with 30 years’ experience, Jim directs consultancy and project teams and coordinates specialist economic inputs into large scale, multi-disciplinary assignments. He is highly skilled at envisioning economic futures for cities and regions based on specialised sector and industry strengths, net zero carbon transition and urban technology.

Jim provides expert economic advice to public bodies internationally including national governments, urban development companies, municipal authorities and international development agencies, including the World Bank and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). He has wide-ranging experience developing economic plans and strategic frameworks. His focus is on the economic resilience of cities & low carbon transitions, urban competitiveness and economic specialisation, industry studies and private sector development, housing & urban revitalization, labour markets, skills & migration, infrastructure planning & investment. 

He is a specialist in the economics and planning of special economic zones (SEZs), innovation districts and large-scale economic infrastructure projects such as ports, airports, renewable energy systems, multi-modal transport and bridges. Jim has experience across numerous countries with diverse socio-economic characteristics – he has worked extensively in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

Jim also works regularly for private sector clients such as real estate developers and infrastructure funders. He has produced business plans & business cases, revitalization plans and economic strategies for large-scale mixed-use or housing-led development schemes and to accompany private sector bids for infrastructure, services delivery and associated concessions (e.g. transport, energy, healthcare). He has excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, and extensive experience presenting to diverse audiences internationally. He is a regular contributor to the UK Government’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Net Zero, as well as representing WSP as a corporate member of environmental and economic development advocacy organisation The Aldersgate Group.