Neil is a Chartered Town Planner and is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University. Neil has also supported Planning Aid Wales by acting as a director for over 10 years, including a year as Chairman of Planning Aid Wales. Neil has advised the National Assembly for Wales in its Inquiry into the Planning System in Wales (2011) and also previously chaired the Welsh Government's stakeholder group on the introduction of Local Development Plans in Wales.