Planner pen portraits

Number two: The doyen(ne) of public planning

I describe myself as ‘local government through and through’ even though I’m now technically a self-employed private consultant. It avoids all that pesky HR type stuff and allows me to actually focus on planning. It’s all about delivering the big schemes for the long-term.

I was an idealistic young man when I entered the profession and over the years, I’ve played the system to try and get the right outcomes. That means growth, but for public benefit. I’m a big figure in planning and I am getting to the point in my career where I can look back at my successes with some relish. I get bored if there’s not enough development happening.

I like working on the big, contentious projects, having a good knockabout argument and reckon I’ve been able to use my influence in the corridors of political power. I know all the stakeholders. I think planning is about the public interest, place and balance, but that is best secured by dedicated professionals working to get stuff done.

Development can transform places positively if there’s a long-term commitment and a sense of vision planners can get politicians and communities to agree to; it’s about not getting bogged down. A good planner should be brave and stand-up for their professional judgement, even if that judgement might just really be a matter of opinion. Did I mention I worked on the Olympics?

Quotes

"There are multiple public interests and they can be quite legitimate. Planning is an activity which is based on values, it is a value laden activity, and guess what, people have different values."

"The private sector will have an understanding of the public interest, but its commitment will be to one particular interest."

"It has to be in the public interest, overall."

"I think you are there, you’re paid to give a professional opinion … give it. Give it, be able to evidence it and back it up, but give it."

"It’s how can you use your skills and professionalism to achieve the needs of the community in the longer run."

"Planning is there for the public good, it’s a realisation that … you need to control the market in order not to have bad externalities."

"I suppose the broader purpose of planning is in terms of getting stuff delivered and sustainable development and housing numbers. As my career’s developed and you move further up … your focus moves from the scheme in front of you to your responsibility for shaping a vision."

"You’ve got to get the politicians to be in a position where they can make those decisions."

"I think it’s about seeking to making a difference, trying to make a difference to people’s lives."

Notes

  • Has spent most of their career in public sector planning, but this might include organisations like the Planning Inspectorate as well as local government and may now work as a self-employed consultant working for local government

  • Perhaps questions the notion of a unified ‘public interest’ but understands and uses the public good justification for planning, seeing a need to manage the market and its externalities

  • May talk about place-making and balancing competing demands as the overarching purpose of planning

  • Likely to believe the role of a planner is to have an opinion and give robust advice

  • Could be closely interested in actually seeing development delivered and motivated by large schemes they’ve been involved with and can point to, believing planning is about seeing significant developments actually happen ‘on the ground’

  • Might have a personalised hard hat