Development and Infrastructure Planning

A chartered Town Planner and member of the Transport Planning Society Andrew is a Senior Transport Planner at NE Combined Authority. He works in Transport and Infrastructure planning responsible for the development and delivery of the North East’s transport pipeline and transport plan. Andrew prepares major funding bids develops regional policy and strategy and project manages the delivery of capital and revenue funding in the region. Andrew works closely with local authority, national and subnational partners in linking transport planning wider spatial planning outcomes.

Prior to joining the Transport North East, Andrew spend six years at Transport for London working in development management across South London. He also gained experience in TfL’s Commercial Development team. Whilst in London Andrew was Chair of the RTPI region in 2016 and was Honorary Secretary prior to that. He is now a member of the RTPI NE RAC and Planning Aid England volunteer, part of a team providing advice through PAE’s advice line service.

Heather is an experienced local government professional, working in regeneration and economic development for over 20 years. Heather is leading the development of the Housing and Land Portfolio for the North East Combined Authority, working with partners and stakeholders to develop an integrated approach to place making. This has seen the creation of the North East Strategic Place Partnership, development and management of brownfield housing and regeneration investment programmes. Heather’s team includes responsibility for shaping major strategic mixed use sites, supporting towns and highstreets priorities, partner collaboration to unlock more social and affordable housing delivery and shaping a regional approach to homelessness prevention.  She is passionate about creating a vibrant and prosperous north east region, helping to shape and unlock investment that can make a difference.  

Claire Bradley joined Durham County Council as Principal Policy Officer in August 2022. Claire is a chartered town planner and has been working in the public sector for 20 years. This includes as Principal Policy Officer at the London Borough of Brent, where she worked on the Wembley Area Action Plan and the Brent Local Plan. Her work is currently focussed on the review of the County Durham Plan.

Katie Griffin-Pearce has been working at Durham County Council as a Policy Officer for three years and specialises in transport policy. She led on the Council's fourth Rights of Way Improvement Plan and assesses planning applications from an active travel perspective. Her work is currently focused on how the County Durham Plan review can take a vision-led approach to transport.

Richard is a chartered and independent planning consultant with over 35 years of experience. He has  worked as a Chief Officer in local government, for a regional partnership body and for small and large private practices. Richard is currently a member of the TCPA's Policy Council and Policy Advisor for RTPI Yorkshire. As a practicing strategic planner for over 25 years  Richard has led the preparation of a Regional Spatial Strategy , a structure plan and a non-statutory Spatial Framework – and acted as a PAS strategic planning advisor. Richard has been a member of the national expert Strategic Planning Group founded by Prior + Partners which  explored the future of strategic planning in England, culminating in May 2025 with the report ‘Planning Positively for the Future - Shaping a new era of strategic planning in England.’ Prior to this he co-authored the RTPI’s ‘Strategic Planning in England – Current Practice and Future Directions’ (2024) research with Catriona Riddell and the University of the West of England, which had a major influence on emerging legislation and national policy.

Helen, BA hons, MTP, RTPI, has worked in planning for over 20 years in a range of public sector organisations. Beginning her career in planning policy roles the East of England, including working for The Broads National Park. Following a move north she joined Sport England in ‘planning’ the Olympic Legacy, then a stint working for a Local Planning Authority in development management, before joining Active Travel England in March 2023. And because there is always more to life, Helen is also a qualified cycle instructor and an assistant scout leader, who is passionate about giving young people the skills and confidence to enjoy the great outdoors.

Ellen is a chartered planner with experience in local and central government. She joined Active Travel England as a Planning Policy Manager in 2023, leading the planning policy team and working on a wide range of projects, including pilot schemes to explore the role Active Travel England could play in supporting local-plan development.

Before this, she worked in the Planning and Infrastructure team at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and as a Planning Advisor at Natural England. She also gained experience working in housing strategy, and planning policy and implementation at local authorities. Ellen has completed a PhD in Spatial Planning.

Dan Sheppard is a Chartered Transport Planning Professional with 15 years experience across the public and private sectors. Dan is an Assistant Director in the National Wealth Fund's Local Authority Advisory and Lending Team where he focuses on supporting local authorities to fund, finance, and deliver projects that support economic growth and net zero. Dan started his career at Kent County Council after which he worked in consultancy gaining experience supporting infrastructure planning and delivery across transport modes including buses, local highways, walking, cycling, high-speed rail, and the strategic road network.