Photo of Eleanor Huggins

Emma Whitney

Principal Planner

Emma Whitney

Emma has been a chartered member of the RTPI since 2011 and has worked as a planning consultant for over ten years advising clients in the private sector.

Emma’s experience includes appraising development opportunities; preparation, project management and submission of applications; monitoring and delivery, reps to local authorities on policy consultations; and community consultation. Emma has extensive experience of a range of project types with particular focus on hotel schemes, and retail and employment developments across England and Scotland.

Outside the office Emma enjoys running (including running around after her family), reading, skiing and the occasional holiday.

Emma Whitney LinkedIn Profile

Photo of Eleanor Huggins

Julie Clarke

Practice Manager

Julie Clarke

Jules is the company’s Practice Manager, supporting all aspects of the team’s activities and assisting the smooth running of all elements of the business.

Jules graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2007 working in retail buying, merchandising and E-commerce for over ten years before a parental career break led her to moving into the property sector.

In her spare time Jules enjoys travel and spending time with her family and friends.

Julie Clarke LinkedIn Profile

photo of Hannah Wild

Hannah Wild

Principal Planner

Hannah Wild

Hannah has over 7 years experience working in both the public and private sectors of planning and is a qualified planning consultant.

After graduating in 2016 from the University of Liverpool with a Master’s degree in Town and Regional Planning, Hannah has gained experience in project management, preparation, submission and monitoring of applications, community consultations, submitting representations to local authorities, as well as working for Local Authorities. Hannah has extensive experience in residential planning, having previously worked for various National housebuilders, co-ordinating development schemes differing in size and scale as well as undertaking a range of different applications.

Outside work, Hannah enjoys attending Manchester City Womens football games and socialising with friends and family.

Hannah Wild LinkedIn Profile

photo of Amanda Pickering

Amanda Pickering

Consultant

Amanda Pickering

Amanda is an experienced town planner having worked in both public and private sectors. She has advised clients on housing, commercial development, healthcare and education proposals throughout the UK.

Amanda has extensive experience of undertaking development appraisals, submitting and negotiating planning permissions, acting as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertaking appeal work. Amanda’s commitment and attention to detail has ensured positive outcomes for her clients.

Outside of work Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hill walking and road cycling.

Amanda Pickering LinkedIn Profile

photo of Tom Hallett

Tom Hallett

Associate

Tom Hallett

Tom is an experienced and qualified planning consultant, elected as a chartered member of the RTPI in November 2016. He has successfully advised on a range of development projects and portfolio sites across England and Wales. Having previously worked as part of a large multi-disciplinary practice, Tom is now an integral part of Q+A’s specialist consultancy offer, continuing to advise on retail, commercial, mixed use and housing schemes to a diverse and national client base.

Tom graduated in the summer of 2013 from Leeds Metropolitan University with a Master’s degree in Town and Regional Planning, during which time he was awarded the RTPI Yorkshire Student Award and the RTPI prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Tom has experience in co-ordinating development schemes of varying scale for both private and public sector clients, working as part of large multi-disciplinary teams on long-term complex projects and providing considered planning advice to optimise outcomes and manage risk for a range of clients.

In undertaking strategic site appraisals and providing commercial planning advice, Tom is able to encompass both the preparation and submission of a myriad of application types and appeal cases across all property sectors and is equipped with extensive knowledge of both national and local planning policy issues.

Outside of work, Tom enjoys catching up with friends and family and spending time in the garden.

Tom Hallett LinkedIn Profile

photo of Peter Keenan

Peter Keenan

Director

Peter Keenan

Peter is a chartered town planner with over 14 years’ planning consultancy experience working for private and public sector clients. He has a keen eye for detail, ensuring that his projects are well researched with key challenges identified at the outset and any risks mitigated. This approach has led to an excellent success rate.

Peter regularly leads major planning applications, working with architects and other consultants, negotiating with local authorities to secure planning permission and advises clients on planning law and procedures. When necessary, he has appeared as an expert witness at public inquiry and examination in public and regularly instructs Counsel and has worked with all the leading planning chambers.

Peter has acted for developers, retailers, investors, house builders and housing associations across the country promoting commercial, retail, residential and mixed-use schemes. He provides planning strategy and tactical advice to achieve site allocations in Local Plans and planning permissions.

Peter has also gained extensive experience in planning for retail and town centre uses, both securing planning permission for retail uses and advising on town centre strategies and masterplans. He has worked on behalf of national retailers (both food and non-food), investors, developers and local authorities across the UK.

Outside work, Peter is kept busy by his two young children, which often involves visits to the numerous local play grounds and soft play areas. When time permits, he enjoys a game of cricket or a round of golf, and also follows the trials and tribulations of non-league Woking Football Club.

Peter Keenan LinkedIn Profile

photo of Ruth Child

Ruth Child

Director

Ruth Child

Ruth is a Chartered Town Planner with 30 years of wide-ranging experience working in both the private and public sectors. She has a detailed knowledge of planning legislation, policy and the workings of the statutory planning system.

In addition to her extensive experience of Development Management practice, she has lead and managed multi-disciplinary teams on a diverse range of projects for large scale development proposals across the country.

Ruth regularly acts for a number of high profile private sector clients and developers providing commercially astute planning advice. She has an enviable track record in successfully negotiating development schemes and securing planning permissions for developments of retail, leisure, residential, commercial, warehousing and care home schemes.

She also has experience in the preparation and presentation of expert evidence concerning planning issues at public inquiries and examinations in public.

Outside work, Ruth enjoys spending time with her family and watching her three sons take part in their sporting pursuits. She is also a season ticket holder at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre and Oldham Athletic football club.

Ruth Child LinkedIn Profile

photo of Chris Quinsee

Chris Quinsee

Director

Chris Quinsee

Chris is a chartered planning and development surveyor and town planner with some thirty years of private sector planning consultancy experience. He has extensive knowledge of the workings of the statutory planning system and wide-ranging expertise drawn from many years of providing planning advice to public and private sector clients.

Chris has advised some of the UK’s largest retailers, investors, landowners and property developers and has led many multi-disciplinary teams to secure planning permissions for major development proposals. Chris is known for providing clear, robust and commercially-aware advice and he has an excellent track record for securing negotiated permissions, often for contentious and high-profile development schemes, across the UK.

Chris has particular experience in:

  • Planning and development issues relating to housing, retail, logistics, industrial and leisure related development projects;
  • Negotiating with local planning authorities and securing consent for major planning applications;
  • The statutory appeal process, including the preparation and presentation of evidence;
  • Advising local authorities in relation to retailing and town centre policy;
  • Strategic planning advice, including the implications of emerging policy; and appraisals of development potential.

When not working, Chris spends more time than is sensible travelling around the country watching Liverpool FC, often with his family; and he enjoys road cycling up and down the hills of the Midlands and further afield.

Chris Quinsee LinkedIn Profile