What was your first job in the property industry?

I worked as a planning, sustainability and marketing intern at The Green Deal Group in North Devon, giving planning policy advice to prospective customers between my first and second years of my undergraduate degree.

What attracted you to working in planning?

Growing up with my grandfather as the Executive Member for Planning on North Devon District Council, I was often taken along to planning functions. Whilst working on the Joint Local Plan, he asked me to give my input as a young person on how I envisaged North Devon developing in the future and how I felt it best to protect the environment. Getting involved in preparing the vision (that is still being implemented today) really started off my love of planning.

What have you enjoyed most about your time at Sheldon Bosley Knight?

Having the opportunities to see projects through from beginning to end, due to the range of land and property services offered by the company. I don’t think there are many planning consultancies where you can undertake an initial site visit, then prepare a scheme and two years later see these proposals become a reality!

Sum up your job in 3 words?

Action gets results!

What are you currently working on?

Numerous barn conversions. Living in a rural area, there is always a barn or two to convert – but there are such a variety of structures to work with that each one we design is completely unique.

Who or what inspires you most?

My family, they always told me I could do anything I wanted.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given about the planning industry?

“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” I think this is of particular relevance during the pandemic!

Where in the world would you most like to live and what style of property would you live in?

In Warwickshire, there is so much history here, why would I want to live anywhere else? I would love to live in a traditional brick barn conversion with historic features.

Who would your dream celebrity planning client be?

Prince Charles! He seems to have such a grasp on sustainable settlements (e.g. Poundbury) so it would be interesting to work on a project with him.