How long have you worked at Hargreaves Land and please you describe your role within the firm?
I joined Hargreaves at the start of June 2025 and I’m a Strategic Land and Planning Manager in the Central Region, based in Leeds. I’m responsible for both expanding and promoting our strategic land portfolio. My role in a nutshell is to add value to our landowners’ land by promoting it through the planning system.
What attracted you to a career in the property sector?
A keen interest in the built environment led me to a degree in Geography, followed by a Masters in Town Planning. I have over a decade of experience as a town planning consultant and enjoy working with different specialists and stakeholders to deliver new developments which will genuinely shape people’s lives.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Knowing that we’re undertaking a crucial role in creating new sustainable places for people to live, work and play. The planning process can be long, complex and challenging, so negotiating this tough terrain and securing results for our landowners is what makes it all worth it!
What are you currently working on?
We’ve a portfolio of strategic land across the north of England, which we are promoting through the Local Plan process and planning applications; I’m working with our trusted consultants to secure allocations and planning permissions. I’m also working with our land agents to identify new sites which we can help to deliver on behalf of landowners.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
This is a really tricky one – overturning recommendations at Planning Committee, giving evidence at Examinations, mentoring junior colleagues to secure their accreditations. But one that sticks out is securing planning permission for a zoo expansion and then taking my young daughters – it’s not often you get idolised in the world of planning!
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself that people may not know
I met my wife on the first day of my first job! Fortunately we don’t work in the same sector any more, so our topics of conversation are now more exciting.
When you’re not at work what do you like to do?
My two daughters keep me busy, and I volunteer at their local Beaver group (it keeps me young!) When I can squeeze in some me-time, I’m an avid supporter of Leeds United and enjoy getting out for a run – I completed the Great North Run last year for Epilepsy Action, which was an amazing experience.
Describe your dream holiday
A week skiing followed by a week of recovering on a beach.
Name your top 3 movies of all time.
- Interstellar
- Toy Story
- Lord of the Rings (that still only counts as one)