Elixr, the Smart City Group delivering smart regeneration across the UK, has just appointed Lord Gary Porter of Spalding CBE to its Board of Directors. Lord Porter is the first of five major announcements scheduled to be unveiled by Elixr over the next few months, joining a stellar cast of industry leaders.

Lord Porter, brings unparalleled experience in planning, local governance, and housing. Formerly the Chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) from 2015 to 2019 and the Leader of South Holland District Council for over 20 years, Lord Porter has been a key architect of UK local policy. He currently sits on The House of Lords Built Environment Committee, a cross-party committee focused on improving housing delivery, infrastructure, and planning; core areas that directly align with Elixr’s mission. 

His appointment reflects the increasing convergence between policy, planning, and advanced smart technologies, and he is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between national strategy and local delivery. 

Lord Porter said: “What towns need is a practical blueprint backed by data and investment -- this framework delivers both, making regeneration achievable, not just aspirational. With the right support, it’s a model that can be rolled out nationally to drive real impact at scale.”

“And with their nonprofit; The Live Data Trust, they are also thoughtfully enabling the policy landscape. Not only am I inspired by leaders in this space like those at Elixr, but I’m honoured to play a role in such a dynamic, thoughtful, and technologically focused company.” 

Elixr: Building the Future of Cities 

ELIXR delivers smart regeneration projects for towns and cities — driven by data and delivered with tech, and works across planning, energy, retrofit and infrastructure to transform places at scale.

Partnering with AECOM and Pinsent Masons, and working alongside local governments, industry, and investors, we help unlock and deliver £500m+ regeneration projects that improve how people live, work, and connect.

With a “place first” approach, we get involved from the planning phase, right through to construction, ensuring every project delivers long-term value for communities, investors, and the built environment.