DB Symmetry adds to planning expertise with GVA hire

The logistics developer has hired Matt Claxton from GVA as planning consultant in the company’s Manchester team.

Claxton was an associate at GVA for over two years. Prior to GVA, he worked for Indigo Planning and then Knight Frank. Over the last 12 years, he has advised on a range of projects for clients including the Greater Manchester Property Venture Fund, Commercial Development Projects, St Modwen and Seddon Construction.

At DB Symmetry, Claxton’s work will co-ordinate with that of planning director Jonathan Dawes, who is based in the company’s Northampton office. His remit will be to provide strategic advice on a range of planning issues, relating to submissions, negotiations and appeals for sites across the North.

This news follows on from the appointment of Paul Chatterjee as the company’s new development director last month.

Andrew Dickman, development director at DB Symmetry, said: “The volume and the complexity of the sites we are involved in has meant we had an urgent need for an in-house planning consultant. Matt’s experience in working with planning authorities, developers and key stakeholders on sites across the UK lends itself extremely well to our business.”