RTPI West Midlands Young Planners’ Committee

Frances has recently joined Carter Jonas in the Planning & Development Team as a Senior Planner. Previously, Frances spent 4-years at Rugby Borough Council working her way up to be a Senior Planning Officer. During her time at Rugby Borough Council, Frances completed her Master’s degree in Planning and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University part-time. Frances became a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute in June 2022. Frances currently works on a range of projects including city centre mixed use re-developments, student accommodation, education facilities and residential housing sites. Outside of planning she keeps herself busy with a number of sporting activities, competing for Leamington Cycling and Athletics Club.

Molly Stanley is a Principal Planner at CarneySweeney and joint Co-Chair of the West Midlands Young Planners Committee 2024. She currently advises a range of private sector clients on residential, commercial and logistics developments ranging from tall buildings to large-scale employment parks. During her earlier roles, Molly completed her MSc degree part-time in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Birmingham.

Molly joined the RTPI West Midlands Young Planners committee in 2019 and became a chartered member of the RTPI in 2022. Outside of work, Molly enjoys hiking in the countryside followed by coffee and a slice of cake.

Holly is a Heritage & Townscape Consultant at Node Urban Design, based in Birmingham. She joined Node in 2024 to pursue a career specialising in the historic built environment, following 4.5 years as a Town Planner at Arup. She has a background in leading Development Consent Orders through the Planning Act 2008, and is experienced in stakeholder engagement, seconded as an Engagement Officer during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Holly completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Birmingham and is a Chartered member of the RTPI. She is excited to be the Vice Chair for this year’s committee.

Tamsin currently works as a Planning Manager at Hayfield Homes, a 5-Star House Builder based out of Solihull. She started her planning career in Planning Consultancies, working at both RPS and Turley, before moving to Hayfield to focus on residential development.

Tamsin has been on the RTPI West Midlands Young Planners committee since 2020. Tamsin is also a member and supporter of other organisations within the region, such as Women in Property. In her spare time, she enjoys keeping active by running and going to the gym.

Katherine started her planning career in 2019 where she worked full-time for Persimmon Homes Central as a Graduate Planner and delt with residential applications between 50 – 250 dwellings. In October 2021, Katherine joined CBRE as an Assistant Planner and commenced her studies at the University of Birmingham on their MSc Urban and Regional Planning course, where she will graduate in December 2023. Katherine works on a range of projects from student accommodation, to rail infrastructure, to mapping of strategic land. Outside of work, Katherine is a member of her local rowing club and competes locally and nationally.

Imogen is a Senior Planning Officer at Cherwell District Council and has worked within the Development Management side of Local Authorities since July 2018. During her earlier roles, Imogen completed her Master’s degree part-time in Planning Built Environments at Birmingham City University. Imogen deals with a range of planning applications, from householder applications to major developments, and has a keen interest in the minefield that is permitted development. Imogen joined the Young Planners Committee in February 2019 and tweets from the @YPWestMidlands Twitter account to advertise Young Planners CPD events, as well as other events happening through the West Midlands. Imogen enjoys travelling, reading, and trying independent shops, restaurants and bars.

As Sandwell Council’s Capital Projects Manager, Alex has responsibility for a portfolio of major capital regeneration and construction projects across the borough. Alex is also responsible for Sandwell’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Plan and for the delivery of the West Bromwich Masterplan. Alex has worked in public sector regeneration- with a focus on town centre redevelopment- since 2018, and graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2020 with an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning. He obtained chartered membership of the RTPI in 2022. Alex has been on the WM Young Planners committee for over a year and now serves as the committee Treasurer.

Bart is a Senior Planning Policy Officer at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council where he is part of the team preparing a new Local Plan for the borough. He has previously worked as a Planning Regeneration Officer successfully securing grant funding for regeneration projects and working on masterplan proposals. He graduated with a MSc in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Birmingham in 2018 and was elected as a chartered member of the RTPI in 2020.

Bart is a keen cellist and plays with the Sinfonia of Birmingham in his spare time.

Charles is a Geographer and trained Planner with research and teaching interests in strategic planning/regional governance, community involvement, housing supply/affordability and planning history. His ESRC-funded doctoral research focused on the Green Belt, England's housing crisis and the planning system and is published in a range of practitioner and academic outlets. Charles' research is now moving into post-Covid cities and the greening of urban centres. A particular passion of Charles' is strengthening the links between the academy and planning practice. Outside of work, Charles enjoys visiting the coast, swimming and his Christian faith.

Gina is a Graduate Planner at Savills in the Birmingham Planning Team. She joined Savills in 2021 and has worked on a variety of projects including major residential applications and promotions, strategic employment sites and town centre regeneration projects. She completed a part-time Msc in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Birmingham in September 2023 as part of the Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship programme, and will be working towards chartership of the RTPI in early 2024. Gina joined the RTPI WM Young Planners committee in January 2024

Emily is a Planner in the Savills Birmingham Planning Team. She gained a masters in Urban and Regional Planning in 2020 from the University of Birmingham, joined Savills on their graduate scheme in September 2020 and became a chartered member of the RTPI in May 2023. Emily currently works on a wide range of projects primarily across the West and East Midlands, including residential and employment site promotions and planning applications for large scale storage and distribution uses. Emily joined the Young Planners’ Committee in 2024.

Hannah works for Pegasus Group as a Planner in the Birmingham City Centre Office. She gained a BSc (Hons) Geography degree from the University of Sheffield and is now nearing completion of the RTPI Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship, which involved undertaking an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Birmingham.

At Pegasus Group, Hannah advises on a range of planning matters including for residential housebuilders, large-scale employment development and for individual clients. Hannah has been a member of the West Midlands Young Planners Committee since January 2024.

Outside of planning, Hannah enjoys yoga, travelling, and supporting independent bars and restaurants.