Planning director returns to Blackburn

Blackburn with Darwen Council has appointed Tom Flanagan as executive director for place, replacing Andrew Lightfoot who left at the end of last year to join the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Flanagan has spent the majority of his career working in strategic regeneration programmes, economic development, transport, planning and environmental services.

He was director of regeneration at the Lancashire authority between 1997 and 2001 where he had led on urban regeneration, economic development and strategic planning. He has spent the last 14 years working with local authorities in Cornwall, Oldham, Liverpool, and most recently Oxfordshire County council as head of planning, environment and transport policy.

Flanagan will use his strategic skills to lead continuous improvements across the place programme area, engage with the private sector and fulfil the aspirations of the council's strategic plans.