Brownfield Redevelopment: Midlands 2018

Chris manages the Planning team of the Coal Authority, whose role includes managing the risks of mining legacy by delivering responses to consultations from local planning authorities (our statutory role), providing planning and technical advice to developers, and assisting in the delivery of corporate projects such as minewater remediation schemes.

Having qualified with an honours degree and post-graduate diploma in City and Regional Planning from the University of Cardiff, during the first half of Chris' career he held a variety of roles within local planning authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales, principally with a focus on planning policy development and economic regeneration. This experience provided significant insights into the constraints to the redevelopment of brownfield land.

Chris then moved into planning consultancy for the next ten years, with clients and projects of different scales across the spectrum of development sectors. During this time he worked on a number of projects in relation to electricity transmission and this provided further insight into the assessment of environmental opportunities and constraints, through related options-appraisal and site sifting exercises.

Since commencing his current role at the Coal Authority in 2017, Chris is enjoying the opportunity to develop an understanding of the diversity of work undertaken by the Coal Authority, whilst applying the variety of relevant skills and insights gained earlier in his career. Chris says he feels privileged to be part of a well-informed dynamic team which has a key role to play in facilitating the redevelopment of brownfield land.