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Planning Potential promotes six: two to Director

3 April 2017

Planning Potential has announced six promotions amongst its specialist consultant team – with two appointments to director level.

Planning consultancy Planning Potential has announced six promotions amongst its specialist consultant team – with two appointments to director level.

Director promotions:

Alastair Close has been promoted to Director from Associate Director where, from Planning Potential’s London office, he is responsible for promoting development on behalf of a diverse range of clients. He has extensive experience advising national retailers, commercial operators, investment funds and private individuals. Having worked in both the public and private sectors, Alastair has a thorough understanding of UK planning matters and is able to apply his experience to provide bespoke, commercially focused advice.

New Director Dan Templeton leads Planning Potential’s Bristol office where he was previously a Consultant. Dan has worked as a planning consultant for over 15 years, working on a variety of high profile schemes, including the development of the Cabot Circus and Temple Quay schemes in Bristol City Centre and the St. David’s 2 retail scheme in Cardiff. Dan has also acted for major foodstore, residential and commercial developers, helping to secure planning permission for various retail and commercial schemes across the South West and South Wales.

Senior Planner promotions:

Grace Mollart has been promoted to Senior Planner from Planner in the company’s London office. Grace joined the Planning Potential team in 2013 and has worked on projects in various sectors – including retail, leisure and high-end residential. This broad practical experience has allowed her to consolidate her planning knowledge and skills. A number of schemes have also involved listed buildings – enabling her to develop her heritage experience.

Sam Deegan becomes Senior Planner in Planning Potential’s Harrogate office. Having gained valuable experience in local government, Sam joined Planning Potential in 2013. He has an excellent understanding of the UK planning system and works on a range of projects – including retail and leisure developments. Involvement in these projects has allowed him to build on the experience he gained at local authority level.

Planner appointments:

Jamie Pert has been promoted to Planner, also in Harrogate. Joining the company as a Planning Assistant in 2014, Jamie has developed a sound understanding of the planning process, assisting senior colleagues with the preparation of a range of retail and leisure applications. He also conducts business health-checks and site visits, and prepares appraisals for clients.

Marsha Badon, also promoted to Planner from Planning Assistant, joined Planning Potential in Bristol in 2016, having previously gained five years’ private sector experience, including supporting the creation of a Leeds-based consultancy. Since joining Planning Potential, Marsha has focused on assisting in the delivery of planning permissions for retail and commercial development across England.

Founding Director of Planning Potential, Helen Cuthbert says: “One of the secrets to Planning Potential’s success, and continued rise up the planning consultancy rankings, is the quality of our people. These six promotions are due reward for the contribution Alastair, Dan, Grace, Sam, Jamie and Marsha have made to providing best-in-class service to our clients in the housing, commercial, retail and leisure, healthcare and education, and heritage sectors.

“I offer my congratulations to them all and look forward to continuing to work with them to build on Planning Potential’s success.”