NATIONAL planning and development consultancy has appointed leading planner Alastair Willis as a Planning Director in its Newcastle office.
Alastair joins from environmental planning and architect practice Stephenson Halliday, where he helped establish its Newcastle-based property and commercial planning team.
Graduating from Newcastle University with a degree in Town and Country Planning Alastair had worked for multi-multi-disciplinary consultancy WYG for 11 years prior to that.
Lichfields Senior Director Michael Hepburn heads the housing and mixed- use team which Alastair has joined.
He said: “Alastair has been on our radar for some time. He is a high-profile addition with extensive planning consultancy experience across the residential, retail, commercial, and tourism sectors in the North East and beyond. Alastair’s skills will be a major boost to our growing team.”
Alastair has advised on a wide range of issues, including planning strategy, housing land supply, Green Belt matters, local plan promotion and planning appeals. He also has experience in preparing and co-ordinating multi-disciplinary EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) projects.
Alastair said: “Having worked in the North East for 12 years it is impossible not to notice the outstanding contribution the Lichfields team, has made to the region’s on-going economic transformation.
“I am thrilled to be joining the largest planning consultancy in the North East and view this a great opportunity to support the growth of Lichfields in the region and develop my career ambitions.”
Lichfields is currently working on planning permission for World Wheel Company’s Whey Aye tourist attraction on Newcastle Quayside, has supported developments for thousands of North East homes in the last few years, and is the preferred planning partner of MetroCentre and Eldon Square owners Intu.