BIOGRAPHIES
Eamon Mythen, Minerals & Waste Planning Team, DCLG
Prior to joining the civil service 2002, Eamon worked in Local Government and the NGO sector before and after qualifying as a planner. Since joining the Planning Directorate in the then ODPM (now DCLG), he has worked on a wide portfolio of planning projects ranging from Changing the Culture of Planning, policy and guidance on development plans and strategic planning, the implementation of the new statutory marine planning system brought into existence by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and its overlap with the existing terrestrial planning system. He also worked on the planning elements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Localism Act 2011. Since 2013 Eamon has been working on the planning for minerals portfolio, initially on developing policy and guidance for onshore oil and gas development and since September 2014 primarily on the implementation of the MASS, which ensures the steady and adequate supply of the minerals which the country needs. Eamon is a Chartered Town and Country Planner, Chartered Geographer and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and entered planning practice in 1991.
Andrew Fraser-Urquhart, Barrister with Francis Taylor Building
Andrew has recently been appointed Queen's Counsel. He specialises in planning, environmental and compulsory purchase matters. He regularly appears in planning inquiries, hearings into Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and in the High Court. He acts for developers, local authorities and third parties.
Andrew has wide experience in all aspects of planning law, including large-scale projects and has particular expertise in large infrastructure schemes, minerals, energy and renewables. Andrew prides himself on his approachability, flexibility and quality of service. He is qualified to accept instructions directly from the public under the Direct Public Access scheme.
Jonathan King was elected as a member of the RTPI in 1980. His early career was spent working in local government, in Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire, lastly as development control team leader responsible mainly for minerals and waste. He joined the Planning Inspectorate in 1996, rising to Principal Planning Inspector. Since 2012, he has worked part-time, dealing with both appeals and development plan examinations. He also sits as a professional member of the Guernsey Planning Appeals Panel and as an occasional presenter with a planning training organisation.
Peter Close; MRICS, Dip AgrEng Lead Specialist, NationalSustainable DevelopmentTeam, Natural England
Joined Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (MAFF) as Soil and Water Engineer in 1979,
Worked in East Anglia and Midlands before moving to Newcastle in 1984,
Have specialised in Land Use Planning; especially minerals planning and reclamation since early 1990s,
Presently working part-time (semi-retired), specialising in providing soils and land quality support to local NE Planning Teams on complex / high risk casework, preparing internal guidance and contributing to Natural England’s inputs to National Planning Guidance etc.
Laura Renaudon, Durham County Council
Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2003 working for a City law firm. She moved to local government in 2004 working first for a borough council in Surrey and then for North Yorkshire County Council in 2008. She spent 5 years dealing with minerals & waste before moving to Durham just over a year ago. She has dealt with over 50 planning inquiries plus a number of JRs. Laura is a legal member of the RTPI (elected 2012) & has LLM with distinction in environmental law.
Marie-Louise Gray, Development Planner, Banks Group
Marie-Louise joined The Banks Group in 2013 and works predominantly within the Mining and Property divisions. Prior to joining Banks, Marie-Louise worked within a large multi-disciplinary consultancy, firstly on projects within the UK, before eventually spending two years in India, where she assisted with the delivery of strategic infrastructure projects. Marie-Louise has also held a previous post within the RTPI policy team.