Gillespies announces the promotion of Jon Freeman and Ollie Clarke to Associate

We are delighted to announce the promotion of Jon Freeman and Ollie Clarke to Associate, effective immediately.

In their new roles, Jon and Ollie will play a vital part in supporting the leadership teams in Leeds and Manchester, driving regional and international growth, strengthening client partnerships, and shaping distinctive, exceptional settings where people and nature thrive together.

Since joining Gillespies in 2012 as a landscape architect, Jon Freeman has played an integral role in our Manchester and Leeds teams, bringing precision, creativity, and strong design leadership to a wide-ranging portfolio of complex, high-profile projects across the North. He was promoted to Senior Landscape Architect in 2015 and rose to Principal in 2019. Notable projects include the critically acclaimed transformation of the Grade I-listed Piece Hall in Halifax, the delivery of Mayfield Park in Manchester, the revitalisation of Rochdale Town Hall’s public realm, and most recently, the creation of City Quays Gardens, a new riverside park on Belfast’s historic waterfront, due to officially open on Thursday 15 May.

Jon’s promotion is a testament to his ongoing contribution, design excellence, and commitment to shaping meaningful places. He will be a valued addition to our Senior Management Team in Leeds as we continue to grow our presence and impact across the region.

Ollie originally joined the practice in 2006 as a graduate landscape architect. Over the years, he played a key role in shaping some of our most significant projects before departing in 2019 as a Principal. We were thrilled to welcome him back to the team in September 2024, and this promotion reflects both his continued impact and our commitment to supporting his career journey.

Throughout his time with us, Ollie has contributed to a number of landmark schemes, including HS2, Kings Walk, Newcastle University, Trinity Centre Leeds, the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme, and our seminal project, Bradford City Park. This major regeneration transformed the heart of Bradford into a vibrant public space and served as a catalyst for the city’s regeneration, playing a key role in its selection as UK City of Culture 2025.

We’re excited to see Ollie step into this new leadership role and look forward to the contributions he’ll continue to make across our projects and teams.