We are incredibly proud Natasha Blackmore Da Silva, a member of our planning team, has been promoted to assistant manager of the planning and architecture department.
Natasha joined Sheldon Bosley Knight in October 2015 after completing her masters in geopolitics and security at Royal Holloway University.
Initially she worked alongside director Dan Jackson as planning assistant but quickly became an indispensable member of the team, swiftly getting to grips with the job and learning the minutiae of the planning processes and all its regulations.
Preparing and submitting planning applications, working with case officers, local authorities and clients as well as offering planning advice and supervising the three planning assistants within the team are all elements of her role.
However, throughout lockdown she took on more responsibility, taking the lead in finding new clients and helping head of department Peter Leamy.
In 2020 she also gained accreditation as a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Chartered Town Planner, the ultimate qualification for the profession and awarded exclusively by the RTPI.
Natasha said: “I am delighted to be promoted to the assistant manager of the department. I have worked really hard, and within an amazing team on some interesting and diverse projects.
“There is never a dull moment and the job is incredibly satisfying but perhaps the stand out project for me was gaining approval for a Woodland Disc Golf Course between Snitterfield and Stratford.
“It is not a well known concept and was quite controversial as it involved using a woodland area. We had to learn what it was all about, prepare our case, ensure the woodland habitat was left intact and get the case officers and the local community on side.
“After two years, several site visits and setting up temporary examples of the game within the woodland for local people to see what it was all about, we were given permission which was incredibly satisfying.
“This is one of the things I love about this job – being able to make a difference for a client, whether it’s getting a much-needed extension for a family or securing affordable homes. And while it’s not going to change the world, it will change someone’s life for the better.”
SBK’s head of planning and architecture, Peter Leamy said: “I am incredibly proud of Natasha. Over the years she has proved to be a real asset to the team here at SBK and it’s been a privilege to see her develop her career with us.
“Her knowledge, skills and passion for the job are evident. She has worked very hard securing a huge number of planning approvals and appeals, is diligent with her self-education and learning on the job and has willingly taken on more and more responsibility.
“I am delighted to be able to reward her hard work and dedication with this promotion which is much deserved.”