Duo join De Pol

Leyland-based planner De Pol Associates has recruited two members of staff, with Jo Mills joining from Liverpool City Council and Louis Webb on board as a graduate planner.

Mills, who has now stated with the Lancashire firm, was a principal planner at Liverpool and has 15 years’ experience in planning and building control across all classes of project, including the city’s recent overhaul of at-risk listed buildings.

De Pol said that Mills has a high success rate on appeals and has dealt with a wide range of contentious planning issues including out-of-centre retailing, regularisation of unlawful developments and new developments within the World Heritage site.

She holds a Master of Planning qualification from the University of Liverpool and an MSc in commercial building surveying from Liverpool John Moores University.

Webb joins from Newcastle University where he recently completed a degree in urban planning, and has previously completed several placements at De Pol.

Webb will assist the team by undertaking research and helping to prepare documents in support of development appraisals, local plan representations, client applications and appeals as part of his professional training and development.

Managing director Alexis De Pol said: “Having been an integral part of one of the country’s busiest planning departments, dealing with a range of diverse and high-profile schemes, Jo’s credentials are incredibly impressive. Her experience of major projects, winning on appeal, and her breadth and depth of knowledge will be most welcome by our clients.

“In Louis we have an enthusiastic and smart young planner who is a great addition to our team. With strong technical skills and an up-to-the-minute grasp of the theory, Louis will immediately be able to assist and learn from his senior colleagues.”

Mills said: “After 15 years of public sector planning, working predominantly within an urban environment, I was looking for an opportunity to broaden my skills within a commercial consultancy and have the chance to see a plan through from inception to a successful approval.”

De Pol said that the hires come on the back of a series of project wins throughout the county and beyond. The De Pol team now numbers ten.