Martin Parrish FPCS, MIED

Martin has worked in the construction and property development fields for longer than he wishes to remember, starting as a management trainee and working through each department in his father’s company. His experience which has encompassed the planning process ranges from residential, office, retail and industrial sectors,  working with household names such as Tesco, Sharps Bedrooms, Hampson Industries Plc, Pirelli Tyres and The Barratt Group to name a few. Martin was Property Director of a small Plc property company prior to setting up The Planning Group Ltd with Andrea in 2010 which now partners retaining clients such as Woodberry Day Nursery Ltd, JYD Property Group Ltd, Herchenbach Industrial Buildings GmbH, The Licensing Guys (TL Guys Ltd) and Big Box Group Ltd.

Martin is a Fellow of the Property Consultants Society and a Member of the Institute of Economic Development and is responsible for managing the group and scoping the work required and providing competitive fee proposals for our important clients which all qualify as. TPGL also work in partnership with clients on a profit share basis when brining forward development schemes in all sectors.

In his spare time he enjoys golf with his friends and due to his (non) ability is used to the banter that follows.

Andrea Parrish BSc Hons, MSc (Urban and Regional Planning), Dip Env & Dev

Andrea is a Licentiate member of the RTPI and holds a MSc in Urban and Regional Planning and a BSc Hons in Environmental Studies.  She has a keen interest in rural and historic development and enterprise.  Successful major projects that Andrea has recently worked on and managed include a residential scheme for 9 units in Holbury, Southampton and a cross subsidy scheme in Cruckton, Shropshire comprising of 6 “affordable” homes for discounted sale and 6 large open market dwellings, the scheme was negotiated with the proactive Parish Council and the supportive Ward Member for Shropshire Council.

In her spare time Andrea rides competitively and has 2 horses called Sugar and Dora, she has represented Shrewsbury and District RC in National competitions and competes at “Medium” dressage (nationally) affiliated to British Dressage.

Dave Richards RTPI (First Professional)

Dave commenced work at 16 in 1969 as office junior in Salop County Council Planning Department and quickly progressed to admin assistant to the Development Control Team. He was then transferred in 1974 to Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council (SABC) as Technical Clerk including land change searches. In 1975, he assisted Oswestry Council for 6 months as technical assistant, then returned to SABC as Planning Assistant Development.

He stayed there and earned his ONC Planning, Surveying and Cartography and his HNC in Planning which lead to him completing a First in Professional Planning via Liverpool and Birmingham. Then he stepped into Development Control Officer, then Office Manager as a Senior Planning Officer then to Principal Planning officer.

Dave took early retirement from these roles in April 2011 and joined The Planning Group Ltd in May 2011 where he is a vastly knowledgeable and valuable member of the team.

Dave is, and this is no secret, a football fan. He loves Everton with a passion and has also coached junior teams and chaired the Shrewsbury Junior Club. He also has a green thumb in the garden which keeps to host his three delightful grandchildren who know him as “Grumps”.

Grahame French BSc Hons, DIP TP, MRTPI 

Grahame worked for Shropshire Council and its predecessor Shropshire County Council between July 1989 and May 2024. For the last 15 years Grahame was employed at Principal Planning Officer level. His duties included:

Grahame was the case officer for some of the largest and most complex applications and planning issues which Shropshire Council has encountered.

Grahame has a particular expertise in interpreting maps and digital imagery, assessing scientific data and identifying development constraints and opportunities. This stems from a combination of his first geological degree, his second planning degree and the subsequent 3 plus decades of experience he has gained as a Chartered Town Planner. We are delighted that this same experience is now available to the Planning Group and our valued clients.

With Grahame and our established network of professionals The Planning Group Ltd can now offer full support for applicants and other interested parties on planning applications relating to renewable energy, minerals, waste, major housing development, intensive livestock schemes and engineering operations. This includes preparing applications, assisting local planning authorities in determining such applications and / or making representations to planning authorities on behalf of third parties.

Grahame states that he is thrilled and excited to be working for the Planning Group and its’ clients and is really looking forward to using his extensive experience to identify and deliver development opportunities in the private sector.

The Mutts

Hugo and Martha are the office dogs, but only when Martin has bought biscuits in for the team.

Geoff Parry LLB(Hons)

Geoff is a retired Solicitor of many years practice in the private sector having been an equity partner in a firm which expanded to some 376 partners and employees. Geoff advises the Company on property and commercial matters including S.106 Agreements/Unilateral Undertakings.

Though supposedly retired he has been actively involved in the education sector having served for 6 years as a Governor at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and for the last 8 years as a Sports Coach at Shrewsbury School.

John Sumner IEng MICE

https://www.sumnerconsultancy.co.uk/

John is an Incorporated Engineer and Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.  In July 2015 he set up my own company where he provides professional advice and design solutions for Transportation and Civil Engineering projects, generally in connection with housing and infrastructure developments and works closely with The Planning Group Ltd on their projects.

He has experience acting as an expert witness on highways, parking areas and drainage projects compliant with Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), as well as providing reports and giving evidence at planning appeals.

As a result of his previous experience working in the Highways and Development Control Departments in Shropshire Council, he has the awareness of what Local Authorities require which can assist in expediting a development scheme.

Some of the problems today when developers are looking at a potential development site are highway and drainage issues.  He can advise in conjunction with The Planning Group Ltd on these aspects of a site and recommend best solutions to overcome any potential highway and drainage problems.  He also produces highway, drainage and flood risk assessments in support of planning applications.

Richard Morriss MA(Hons) MSocSc

Richard works with The Planning Group Ltd and their clients providing Heritage Impact Assessments, conservation area appraisals and general historic buildings advice. Richard also advises on potential development schemes which may affect designated, non-designated Heritage Assets and Conservation Areas. He is very well respected by Historic England, Local Planning Authorities and the Planning Inspectorate when giving evidence at Planning Inquiries and Hearings.

Steve Rawlings

Steve has worked with The Planning Group Ltd since its formation and is an integral part of the day to day production of plans to assist with change of uses, householder extensions, alterations and small development schemes including conversion and new build.  He is skilled at interpretating the brief and producing concise and accurate plans.

R.G. Thorne BA [Hons] MRSB and Dr A.K. Thorne MCIEEM

https://churtonecology.co.uk/

Churton Ecology is a Shropshire-based ecological consultancy offering a range of specialist surveys for conservation and development, including the newly introduced Biodiversity Net Gain*.  Both Rob and Kate work with TPGL and their clients in providing the full range of ecological reports which are a requirement that is of high importance within the planning process. These include ecological assessments and protected species surveys at development sites. Rob and Kate are accredited and qualified (holding survey licences for key species) to ensure that their clients projects meet ecological planning requirements. They also survey, monitor and provide management advice for development and conservation projects.

Both Rob and Kate are involved with voluntary plant recording for the BSBI and have the necessary botanical skills to carry out the BNG assessments. Kate holds an IdQ in Vascular Plants (Natural History Museum), has been a botanical tutor for the Field Studies Council and Keele University, and co-ordinates plant recording in Montgomeryshire for the BSBI.

Ewan Dryburgh BA (Hons) BArch(Hons) ARB RIBA

https://www.eda-ltd.co.uk/

Ewan studied at Liverpool University School of Architecture gaining the ‘John Rankin’ prize for Architecture. He went on from there to work for various Practices in the Shropshire and Staffordshire area and in 1990 became an Associate Partner in the Shrewsbury office of Abbey Hanson Rowe. In 1993 Ewan started his own practice and leads the business to this day.

Relevant Skills

Architecture– Refurbishment, New Build, Health Care, Office, Domestic and Commercial Interior Design – Extensive restaurant design experience both in the UK and Internationally. Design Skill – Ewan is a ‘hands on’ Architect with significant commercial conceptual and detail design experience both in the new build and refurbishment sectors. Ewan believes in ‘Challenging a brief’ and presenting all design ideas in 3D to allow concepts to be fully understood by the Client and Construction team alike.

Nicola Phillips BA (Hons) BLA CMLI

www.njlandscapedesign.co.uk

Nicola Phillips, founder of Nicola Jayne Landscape Design. An independent Stockport-based Award Winning Landscape Design Studio with more than fifteen years’ experience creating dynamic spaces with nature at the core.  Experience spans across residential, commercial, public realm and private garden design, working in practises in East Anglia, London and Manchester.

NJLD have been working with The Planning Group Ltd for a number of years now . They are very proactive, succinct and a delight to be part of a design team with.