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Thu 5 November 2020
In our latest ‘day in the life of’ we get to find out more about staff member Chris Green who works as a planner as part of the companies planning and development team.
What made you chose this industry and area of work?
I have always been attracted to the world of property and headed off to the University of Portsmouth where I studied a bachelor’s degree in Property Marketing, Design & Development with a view to getting into the industry somewhere. However, my interest in planning specifically spawned after a couple of years studying, most likely due to my lead tutor being from a town planning background. After studying how spaces could be designed and adapted to improve the way we work and live, I was determined that this was the path for me.
I was lucky enough to join Andrew Granger & Co shortly after finishing university, initially working within the lettings department whilst I began the process of obtaining my master’s degree in Town & Country Planning through part-time distance learning. With an opportunity to make the switch to the companies planning department, I was able to gain first-hand experience whilst studying and am thrilled to now be working with a wide range of clients, architects and consultants having completed my degree.
How does your working day start?
It much depends what time our 6-month old son decides to wake up!! Either way, I’ve never been a coffee or tea drinker and much prefer to start the day by taking our Basset Hound, Bruce, for a walk. This gives me the opportunity to go through key tasks in my head, so I can sit down at my desk and be as productive as possible.
What can a typical day involve for you?
As cliché as it sounds, a typical day doesn’t really exist in the planning department. Much of the day can be spent in the office (or working-from-home in these strange times), tracking planning applications and keeping up to date on the ever-changing landscape of local and national planning policy. It could involve liaising with specialist consultants to discuss flood risk strategies or ecological mitigation or negotiating land sales and developer agreements with large scale housebuilders.
Away from the office, we could be out driving throughout the Midlands investigating new strategic development growth opportunities or simply meeting a homeowner with potential for a single plot or large extension.
We also work very closely with the other departments within Andrew Granger & Co, so could be out in the countryside accompanying our rural surveyors on a farm visit to discuss potential farm diversification or permitted development rights, or with our commercial team looking at opportunities in the towns and cities across the East Midlands.
Our working day isn’t just limited to the usual 9 to 5 either. Our evenings often involve consultations with local Parish Councils on an upcoming schemes or emerging Neighbourhood Plans, as well as attending Planning Committees to present our case to the Local Authority in the hope of obtaining planning consents for our varied clients.
What do you like most about your job?
Being able to interact with a wide range of clients and help them to change their future, either through a simple change of use, a farm diversification, a large-scale mixed-use development scheme, or just a redevelopment of their property.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
The world of planning and development is ever changing, with policy and guidance at both local and national levels seemingly changing on a weekly basis, so keeping up-to-date and ahead of the game is key to allow us to provide our clients with the best advice possible.
Planning can also be an extremely emotive subject, which is often a challenge in itself, but we aim to work closely with key stakeholders and expert consultations to find an appropriate balance.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
Much of my time away from work revolves around my family, as my wife and I welcomed our first child earlier this year. When time does permit though, I’m a keen cook and avid follower of all thing sport – whether football, cricket or motor racing. Being a big Liverpool FC fan I’m sure my colleagues were glad to be working from home when the Premier League champions were recently crowned!
Are you an early bird or a night owl?
I would definitely say I’m an early bird – I’ve never been one for a lay in! Which is probably good as sleep is hard to come by living with a new baby!
If you would like any help or advice from Andrew Granger & Co’s planning and development team please call them on 01858 439090 or find out more here: https://www.andrewgranger.co.uk/pages/planning-and-development2
