Leicester Urban Observatory was established by:

Grant Butterworth, Head of Planning, Leicester City Council;

Robert Harland, Reader in Urban Graphic Heritage, Loughborough University;

Loretta Lees, Professor of Human Geography, University of Leicester (now at Boston University);

Neil Stacey, Principal Lecturer, De Montfort University, (now at University of Nottingham).

Other individuals contributing to its formation, early development, and ongoing activity include Gavin Brown, Simon Gunn, Nicola Handa, Justin Webber and Paula Burbicka.