Benjamin Hindle

Ben is a confident professional who has progressed rapidly in his planning career. Despite having fewer than six years of planning experience, he is already handling significant responsibility, including representing Wokingham Borough Council at formal appeals. His commitment to professional development stands out, both through engagement with the wider planning sector and through mentoring junior colleagues. Managing and supporting three interns, presenting at Oxford Brookes University, and acting as a positive role model demonstrate that he is respected and trusted by his colleagues.

The judges were impressed by the strong examples of practical planning work provided within the submission, demonstrating Ben's policy knowledge, experience in handling major applications, effective negotiation skills, committee participation, and appeal work. Determining fourteen major applications in a single year and securing measurable improvements to schemes underline that he is already performing at a high professional level, rather than simply showing potential.

The judges noted that the supporting references further reinforced the strength of the submission, while his enthusiasm and passion for planning shone through during the interview. They particularly welcomed the evidence of his commitment to supporting and developing others within the profession, alongside his own impressive career progression.

Congratulations, Ben.