Regional Activities Committee

Andrew is a chartered Town Planner and member of the Transport Planning Society and is a Senior Transport Planner at NE Combined Authority. He works in Transport and Infrastructure planning responsible for the development and delivery of the North East’s transport pipeline and transport plan. Andrew prepares major funding bids develops regional policy and strategy and project manages the delivery of capital and revenue funding in the region. Andrew works closely with local authority, national and subnational partners in linking transport planning wider spatial planning outcomes.

Prior to joining the Transport North East, Andrew spend six years at Transport for London working in development management across South London. He also gained experience in TfL’s Commercial Development team. Whilst in London Andrew was Chair of the RTPI region in 2016 and was Honorary Secretary prior to that. He is now a volunteer on the RMB NE, the regional Rep on the General Assembly, and a Planning Aid England volunteer, part of a team providing advice through PAE’s advice line service.

Andrew is a Chartered Town Planner in our Real Estate department. He specialises in planning matters and undertakes a range of development management, planning policy and enforcement work.

Andrew became a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 1996 and has been a planning consultant with Ward Hadaway for more than 20 years.   He has worked throughout the north of the country and beyond undertaking planning work.  Previously he was a planning officer with three local planning authorities. Additionally he has had a period of secondment with a national house builder. Clients include developers, businesses, estates, land owners, pressure groups and private individuals.  Andrew is NEPRO accredited and additionally has had instructions from public sector organisations including councils,  NHS Trusts and CCGs.

Andrew has particular expertise in cases which are contentious and where there are difficult policy, legal and technical issues.

Adam is the Planning Manager at Newcastle Airport after joining in 2022. During his time at the Airport, Adam is involved in developing the Airport Masterplan alongside leading on planning applications for large developments including the terminal extensions and solar farms. Adam also has previous public sector experience as a Planning Officer at both Northumberland National Park and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.  Adam is also a chartered member of the RTPI.

Colin Haylock is a Newcastle based architect-planner with over 40 years’ experience. He now provides consultancy services primarily in heritage and other sensitive environments. He led a multi-disciplinary Environmental Design Team for Newcastle City Council for over ten years with work ranging from Grainger Town to Newcastle Great Park and the East Quayside redevelopment. He was RTPI President in 2012 and since 2000 has been heavily involved in national work on planning and design through CABE and the Design Council. He is a Visiting Professor and Lecturer at UCL, a Member of Historic England’s Expert Advisory group, a High Streets Task Force Expert, a Member of the Design Review Panels for the North East and Yorkshire and of the Fabric Committee for Durham Cathedral. He has had recent past roles with Newcastle University, the London Mayor’s Design Advisory Group and the Planning Committee for the Old Oak and Park Royal Mayoral Development Corporation.

David Stovell is the principal of David Stovell and Millwater, an independent planning consultancy covering a wide range of planning matters, with particular regard to planning applications and appeals. David was previously been Chair of RTPI North East, he was for many years the Chair of the NE's Continuing Professional Development Steering Group, which is responsible for formulating and running the regions highly successful CPD Conference Programme. He graduated from the University of Aston in Birmingham and has held positions in the public and private sectors, working on development plans, compulsory purchase orders, implementation and retail planning.

Darren is a chartered town planner with over 35 years experience in the planning and development sector gained from both the public and private sector.  He is currently Head of Onshore Wind Development at EDF power solutions responsible for the planning and development of a portfolio of renewable projects throughout the UK.  He has been in the renewables industry for almost 25 years and has held a number of similar roles throughout the energy industry.

Darren is based in the North East and has worked for North East Local Authority’s primarily in development control at the start of his career following graduation from Bristol Polytechnic in the late 1980’s.  He has significant experience in dealing with complex energy infrastructure proposals and the necessary consultation, negotiation and promoting of such schemes.

Dan is a recent graduate of the Master of Planning degree at Newcastle University, working in the Spatial Planning team at Gateshead Council. His current work includes contributing to the development of a new joint local plan with Newcastle City Council, specialising in areas such as employment, infrastructure, retail, leisure and tourism. Dan has been an RTPI student member since 2020, volunteering with the RAC and YP committee, and intend to begin the licentiate route in 2026. 

Jamie currently works at the North East Combined Authority in the Housing & Land Team. As well as managing investments into place-based regeneration schemes across the region, Jamie has led on the establishment of the North East High Streets

Commission and the early scoping & engagement around the

Spatial Development Strategy. Wider work within the team relates to Mayoral priorities around unlocking more homes, including

more affordable & social housing and taking steps to improve local spaces.

Having over 30 years diverse career experience in the built

environment, he has had a wide range of roles, both in the private and public sectors, which gives him a well-rounded understanding of the various challenges faced by all sectors of the regeneration community.

He is passionate about enabling transformative projects that will deliver long-lasting and meaningful change to the region’s places, both new and old, making them the best they can be for our communities & visitors.

Joe is an Associate at Hedley Planning Services and Chairs the Member and Public Relations Sub-committee. He was the North East Region's youngest ever Chair in 2012, where he was keen to highlight the problems and opportunities faced by the rural areas of the Region. Joe has worked in Planning since 2007 in both public and private sector. His experience includes obtaining planning permission for a range of developments including mixed use development, major residential, commercial, retail, leisure and tourist projects; preparing site appraisals; engaging in the development plan process to promote land, including making representation at Examination in Public; and, advising in relation to highways issues including road closures.

 Lucy is a Planner at Lichfields, having joined in 2023 following the completion of her Master’s degree in Urban Planning at Newcastle University. Prior to this, Lucy completed her undergraduate studies at Durham University where she studied Geography, graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in 2022. Lucy has a particular focus and interest in town centre regeneration and the built historic environment. She has experience assisting in the preparation, submission and management of planning applications for a range of minor and major developments and has experience across a variety of sectors including retail, leisure, commercial, residential, healthcare and infrastructure. Lucy is currently Vice Chair of the RTPI North East Young Planners’ Committee.’

Matthew is Head of Planning at Hamilton Willis Land & Development, an independent development land consultancy specialising in strategic development land.  He is a Chartered Town Planner having obtained his Master’s Degree in Spatial Planning and Development from Cardiff University in 2018.  Matthew predominately focuses on the residential sector with experience across the full breadth of project scales including the promotion of new settlements.  However, Matthew’s experience extends to commercial, renewable energy and environmental based projects as well.  Matthew has a keen interest in Planning Policy and CPD and is contributing to the RTPI’s role in both as part of his role on the RTPI NE Regional Activities Policy Committee. Matthew has also recently been appointed Junior Vice Chair of the RTPI North East and is looking forward to directly shaping the RTPI’s regional activity over the coming years.  

Rob is Chief Planner and Director of Housing at Northumberland County Council, one England’s largest single tier authorities. Previously positions have included Chief Planner at Sheffield City Council and at Derbyshire County Council. Rob is a former director of the Planning Officers Society, sat on the Policy Board of the Town & Country Planning Association and conducts LPA improvement support programmes for the Planning Advisory Service. He has a long history of involvement local, strategic,  economic and environmental planning. He has contributed to the development of planning & environmental policy, legislation and practice in England, Scotland, regional government and in Germany.

Thea is a Graduate Planner at Savills, having joined in 2024 following the completion of her studies at Newcastle University, where she obtained a Master’s degree in Urban Planning. Prior to this, Thea completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Leeds, graduating with a BA in Spanish. At Savills, Thea has been involved in a variety of projects and assists with the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments. Thea is also actively working towards her APC to achieve MRTPI accreditation.

Tim is a Chartered Engineer and is a highways and transportation consultant with more than 40 years’ experience.   He provides expert advice at all stages of development from feasibility to implementation, preparation of transport statements, transport assessments and travel plans, presentation of Proof of Evidence for planning appeal written representations, for informal hearings, for Public Inquiries and for Lands Tribunal, preparation of a Witness Statement for a High Court Judicial Review case. After being a Technical Director at national Fairhurst and at global WSP for a total of seven years, Tim set up his own successful highways and transportation consultancy business in 2010. He has expertise in all development types including residential, commercial, retail, leisure, education, health, student accommodation, community facilities and glamping sites.