RED or Dead fashion house co-founder Wayne Hemingway has been chosen to lead a housing debate in the region next month.
The clothes designer famously laid into Britain's housing, accusing architects of "Wimpeyfying" property design.
Builders George Wimpey challenged Mr Hemingway to come up with ideas, leading to his influence in the Staiths South Bank - a 700-home development in Gateshead.
He has been brought in to talk about ways of creating "balanced communities", which can break down the housing patterns of people in affluent areas living in a cluster next to people in comparative deprivation.
The conference, hosted by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, will take place in the conference suite of St James's Park, Newcastle, on Thursday, March 20.
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