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Wesley is a Planning Consultant at AtkinsRéalis, based in London. He joined three years ago through the Graduate Development Programme and has since worked on the consenting of major infrastructure and development schemes across various sectors including energy, transport, water, waste and residential. He is currently supporting the Greater Cambridge Infrastructure Delivery Plan, the document that sets out what infrastructure the area needs if it is going to grow.
What does a week look like?
“My day-to-day activities can vary a lot. On some days I focus on researching and drafting technical planning and environmental assessment reports; on others I facilitate workshops to coordinate activities within a multi-disciplinary team. As I’ve developed my career I’ve also started hosting meetings with clients and providing advice on planning strategies and spatial planning issues. No single day is the same, and that really motivates me.”
What are you working on at the moment?
“Since the start of the year I’ve been focusing on supporting the development of the Greater Cambridge Infrastructure Delivery Plan. The IDP is a key planning document informing the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan, and I’ve been working closely with senior colleagues in my team to support the local authorities in the area to assess and identify the infrastructure required to allow growth in Greater Cambridge over the next 20 years to be realised.”
Greater Cambridge is one of the fastest-growing areas in England. What does that actually mean?
“Greater Cambridge encompasses the world-renowned city of Cambridge, the newly emerging towns of Cambourne, Northstowe and Waterbeach, and a series of necklace villages close to Cambridge. The area currently houses around 313,000 residents. The emerging Local Plan will introduce an additional 52,000 dwellings and 136,000 residents over a 20-year horizon.
The IDP provides a strategic framework to identify, prioritise and coordinate infrastructure delivery. It sets out solutions to challenges like water scarcity, wastewater treatment capacity, outmoded social infrastructure and a rapidly ageing population, all of which could otherwise constrain growth and shape what those future communities look like.”
What’s changing in planning right now?
“The planning system in England is in a state of rapid reform. A new system for local plan making has been launched, and the Planning and Infrastructure Act introduces spatial development strategies, which bring a new strategic tier of planning beyond current local authority boundaries.
As a planning consultant I’m excited to support our clients to navigate those reforms. The AtkinsRéalis Planning Team is a team of over 60 town planners with a diverse portfolio of experience, and I’m looking forward to developing new ways of working so we stay at the forefront of it.”
“The planning system in England is in a state of rapid reform.”
What would you say to someone thinking about joining?
“If you’re looking to broaden your planning experience, our team offers the opportunity to work on projects that shape places at every scale, from nationally significant infrastructure and renewable energy schemes through to local and regional plan-making. You’ll help address some of the UK’s biggest challenges around housing delivery, climate resilience, water security and sustainable growth.
It’s a place where early-career planners can build a varied career. You’ll be supported by experienced colleagues, encouraged to pursue professional development, and given opportunities to contribute to meaningful projects from an early stage.”
If you want to work on places at that scale, we’re recruiting town planners across infrastructure planning and plan-making. Explore our open roles.
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