Marrons’ planning team in Birmingham has more than doubled in size in 24 months – helping meet the needs of the consultancy’s growing client base in the Midlands.
The eight-people-strong team takes the lead in developing Marrons’ planning offering in the region, providing services including strategic land acquisition, town planning, heritage solutions, and promoting greenfield and brownfield land to meet future housing and employment needs.
Marrons launched in Birmingham in summer 2022. Leading the charge are planning directors Sachin Parmar and Charlotte El Hakiem, who have more than 30 years of experience between them.
Sachin said: “Doubling the size of our Birmingham team in such a short span is a testament to the growing demand for our planning services in the Midlands due to our high success rates.
“Our expanded team is now even better equipped to provide comprehensive support to clients, ensuring we continue to meet the region’s housing and employment needs efficiently.”
Also in the team is heritage director Hannah Hamilton-Rutter. With skills in conservation and urban design, and more than 11 years’ experience in the heritage sector, Hannah joined Marrons from RPS where she directed the group’s built heritage services in its Newark office. Before this, she worked in conservation at both Charnwood and Bedford borough councils.
Associate director and experienced town planner Alasdair Thorne works with clients across Birmingham and the wider Midlands region to promote sites via the local plan process, including sustainable urban expansions, as well as gain planning permission and conduct planning appeals.
Their experience and skills dovetails with the knowledge provided by additional recruits – senior planner James Lloyd, who was previously a planning officer at Lichfield District Council and a planning consultant at a West Midlands consultancy, with greenbelt and rural experience; and planner Ellen Keen, who joined Marrons from South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils where she was a countryside and planning enquiry officer.
Graduate planner Munashe Mhemba is completing her masters degree and RTPI accreditation alongside her work, while planning administrator Cathy Gao has more than 18 years’ administrative experience.
Charlotte said: “We’re committed to investing in emerging new talent and developing the planners of the future, and we’re thrilled to see our team grow and diversify with talented professionals who bring a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives.
“This expansion enables us to enhance our service offerings, from strategic land acquisition to town planning, and address the complex challenges of greenfield and brownfield land promotion. It is an exciting time for Marrons and our clients.”