PlanningSphere is a small, well-connected and highly experienced planning consultancy based in Bath and headed by Chris Beaver. We are able to offer the same professional planning skills you might find in larger corporate planning consultancies, but with a more personal, cost-effective and responsive level of service.
Chris Beaver BSc (Hons) MA MRTPI
Director
Chris founded PlanningSphere further to establishing a 20-year track record of navigating complex projects through the planning process.
During the 1990s, Chris worked in property valuation and planning roles within central and local government. This public-sector experience provided a deep insight into public service and the various processes that influence the planning system.
In 2001, he joined a Bath-based architectural practice and established an in-house planning consultancy team that subsequently grew to function as a planning consultancy in its own right. In 2008, he became a director of a nationwide planning consultancy, and went on to relocate its Bath office to Bristol and become head of a team of 17 property professionals.
These private-sector roles gave Chris valuable experience of commercial and corporate planning across the region, and have influenced the responsive, client-centric approach to planning consultancy that underpins PlanningSphere’s bespoke planning services.
Through PlanningSphere, Chris also supports Trees in Trust (a local woodland planted and managed by volunteers near Tintern, Monmouthshire).
Claire Durbin BA (Hons) MA MRTPI
Senior Planning Consultant
Claire joined PlanningSphere in February 2014. With 14 years’ experience as Chartered Town Planner at the Planning Inspectorate, she is a planning professional with a wide-ranging knowledge of planning policy and procedures.
Her ability to adapt to new challenges and rapidly absorb new information is coupled with a determined focus on delivery. She has excellent analytical, research, report writing and problem solving skills. She also has considerable experience of dealing with complex planning and legal issues, and is highly adept at getting to the heart of difficult planning problems and resolving conflicting priorities.
Kerry Greenhalgh MSc Urban Planning
Planning Consultant
Kerry has recently returned to PlanningSphere after taking a short break to complete a MSc in Planning and Urban Leadership. She is a PRINCE2 qualified project manager, drawing on over 15 years’ experience of regeneration projects and programmes in the public and private sectors.
At PlanningSphere, Kerry has supported a wide range of commercial, residential and community projects through undertaking planning appraisals, generating planning statements and liaising with the local authority. She works diligently with clients to navigate planning constraints such as conservation areas and listed building status, and to identify the opportunities that planning policy and the site presents.
Her attention to detail and ability to present a strong case makes her an invaluable member to the project team.
Théo Beaver
Planning Analyst
Théo, who is studying for a Geography and Economics degree at Loughborough University, works part time for PlanningSphere. This is a research and monitoring role to support planning appraisals as well as the management and monitoring of the practice’s live planning applications, appeals and development plan promotions.
PlanningSphere and AssetSphere
We work closely with our sister company AssetSphere on promotion sites and larger developments.
AssetSphere, headed up by Richard Edge and Alex Orttewell, is a highly reputable, independent and specialist rural property consultancy that advises farmers, landowners, government agencies and utility companies, to manage their assets and maximise returns.
Having collaborated for over 10 years, Chris, Richard and Alex are delighted to work together on complex sites that complement their geographic coverage and areas of expertise.
Our clients
