People · Podcast guest
Jay Morton
Director · Bell Phillips Architects
Director at Bell Phillips Architects, working on large-scale housing, masterplanning and regeneration. Housing campaigner and advocate for the architecture profession.
- Current role
- Director
- Practice
- Bell Phillips Architects
- Location
- London, UK
- On the podcast
- 1 episode · 2026
The story so far
The path behind Jay's work.
Jay Morton is a director at Bell Phillips Architects, a London practice known for housing, masterplanning, regeneration and public realm. She works on large-scale housing and regeneration projects and is a longstanding advocate for better housing and a stronger architecture profession.
A housing campaigner who engages regularly with policymakers, the media and professional forums, she stood as a candidate in the 2026 RIBA presidential election. She joined Stephen Drew on the Architecture Social podcast to discuss why architects have lost influence in the UK and what could change.
Episode 0256 · Architecture Social · 52:06
Why Architects Have Zero Power in the UK Right Now
Why do architects have so little power in the UK built environment, even when their work shapes housing, public space, procurement and the way cities function?
Inside the conversation
6 moments to start with- 01
00:00 · Introduction and RIBA election context
- 02
02:53 · Why Jay Morton is running for RIBA President
- 03
04:34 · Jay's background and approach
- 04
05:39 · Why architects are invisible in government
- 05
07:54 · Pressure on architecture practices
- 06
12:09 · Fees and the race to the bottom
Profile in brief
The work and context behind Jay's conversation.
- Current role
- Director
- Practice
- Bell Phillips Architects
- Location
- London, UK
Continue exploring
Meet the practice behind the work.
Bell Phillips architects was established in 2004 after Tim Bell and Hari Phillips won an international design competition to carry out a major regeneration project in East London. From this first £8 million project the practice has grown and diversified with a portfolio that currently includes a wide range of…
- Greater London
- Masterplanning
- Mixed-Use
- Public Sector
Podcast · moments that play
Start where the idea starts.
- 02:53Jay Morton · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Why Jay Morton is running for RIBA President
- 04:34Jay Morton · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Jay's background and approach
- 05:39Jay Morton · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Why architects are invisible in government
- 07:54Jay Morton · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Pressure on architecture practices
- 12:09Jay Morton · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Fees and the race to the bottom
- 15:29Jay Morton · YouTubePlay this moment on video ↗Play on video ↗
Student debt and the cost of studying architecture
Selected work from Bell Phillips Architects
Three projects, one connected practice.
A closer look at the practice’s work
Church Street
A Westminster regeneration scheme delivering mixed-tenure homes, public realm and community uses around a low-energy residential neighbourhood.
View project →Cosway Street
A completed Westminster residential scheme beside the Grade II* listed Christ Church, arranged around a communal garden.
View project →The Tree House
A low-embodied-carbon public pavilion in Elephant Park organised around an existing London plane tree.
View project →