Bristol Young Planners started in 2011 as the original only South West Young Planners group (we now have 5) and have since gone from strength to strength organising activities and events for Young Planners based in or nearby to Bristol. Annual event favourites are the annual Jane Jacobs walk in May, the Boat Social in June and Scavenger Hunt in September. Plus the many other social and CPD events held in the year.
We are always open to welcome new members onto the steering group, as long as you are happy to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in with ideas and helping to organise an event, we would be delighted for you to join.
Find out about their latest news and events here

Laurie Appleyard
Planning Consultant at LDA Design

Laurie Appleyard
Planning Consultant at LDA Design
Laurie graduated from Cardiff University with a Masters in International Planning and Development in 2018 before joining Atkins in Bristol as a Transport Planner. She then transferred to LDA Design in 2023 where she is a Planning Consultant. Laurie has experience across multiple sectors, including infrastructure development and regeneration. Her key interest is how we can make sustainable places which are welcoming for all.
She has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2023.

Alexis Baird
Vice Chair of Bristol Young Planners and Design Officer at Design West

Alexis Baird
Vice Chair of Bristol Young Planners and Design Officer at Design West
Alexis graduated from the University of Liverpool with an MEng in Civil Engineering, before pursuing his interest in sustainable development by completing a Masters in City Planning at the University of Glasgow in 2021.
He began his career as a planning consultant at Cushman and Wakefield and then Corylus Planning & Environmental before joining Design West as a Design Officer. Alexis has recently achieved RTPI chartered status and has a keen interest in sustainability and climate change mitigation in cities, as well as masterplanning and urban design.
Alexis joined the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee in summer 2024.

Robert Beale
Assistant Planner at Morgan Elliot Planning

Robert Beale
Assistant Planner at Morgan Elliot Planning
Robert graduated from the University of Southampton in 2022 with a Geography BA undergrade degree. Following a passion for the built environment, Robert then embarked on the RTPI-accredited Urban Design and Planning master’s course at the University of Sheffield. Whilst pursuing these degrees, Robert completed work experience in both the public and private sector, alongside publishing an original research paper. In September 2023, Robert joined Morgan Elliot Planning in their Tetbury office as Assistant Planner. Robert currently focuses on promoting sites, preparing planning appraisals, submitting planning applications and maintaining community engagement across a number of sectors.
Robert has been a member of the Bristol Young Planners Steering Group since December 2023.

Lewis Godsmark
Chair of Bristol Young Planners and Graduate Planner at Avison Young UK

Lewis Godsmark
Chair of Bristol Young Planners and Graduate Planner at Avison Young UK
Lewis is a Chartered Town Planner based at Avison Young UK.
He graduated from the University of Bristol in 2018 and holds a MSc Urban Planning from the University of the West of England. In 2021 he joined Knight Frank LLP, working with the Bristol based Land, Planning & Development team on a variety of residential, commercial, leisure and mix-used schemes across the UK. He obtained Chartership shortly after joining Avison Young UK in September 2024.
Lewis has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2024 and was elected Chair in February 2025.

Aamina Khan
Chartered Town Planner Apprentice at the Planning Inspectorate

Aamina Khan
Chartered Town Planner Apprentice at the Planning Inspectorate
Aamina is a Chartered Town Planner Apprentice at the Planning Inspectorate since September 2022 where she has worked on National Infrastructure projects, training delivery for new Inspectors and appeal casework. She is studying part time for a master’s in urban planning at UWE whilst working towards her RTPI accreditation. Aamina is passionate about upskilling and empowering disadvantaged communities to engage with planning and help shape the places they live in.
Aamina joined the Bristol Region Young Planners Steering Group in February 2023 and is the current treasurer from January 2024.

Jack McLean
Chartered Planner at Planning Potential

Jack McLean
Chartered Planner at Planning Potential
Jack graduated from UWE Bristol in 2020 with an Urban Planning BSc undergraduate degree. Jack then completed and graduated from UWE Bristol with a PGDip in Planning and Urban Leadership. Following graduating in early 2022, Jack joined Planning Potential’s Bristol as an Assistant Planner where he now works as an Chartered Planner having recently achieved his RTPI accreditation in May 2024. In his time at Planning Potential, Jack has worked on a large variety of planning projects and has experience in multiple sectors including residential and leisure, with a primary focus and knowledge of the retail sector.
He has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2024.

Jenny Payne
Planner at Turley

Jenny Payne
Planner at Turley
Jenny graduated with a Masters in Urban Planning from UWE in 2023 and has almost three years of experience in planning consultancy across England and Wales. Jenny currently works at Turley’s Bristol office, a UK-wide multidisciplinary planning consultancy, where she plays a key role in a diverse range of projects, with a particular focus on commercial and Net Zero Infrastructure (NZI) work across the South West and Wales. She has a keen interest in affordable housing and community led development initiatives.

Alex Veitch
Planner at Walsingham Planning

Alex Veitch
Planner at Walsingham Planning
Alex graduated from UWE Bristol with a Masters in Planning in 2019, which included a placement year at Planning Consultant’s, Walsingham Planning. Following graduating, Alex spent six months working at the Planning Inspectorate before returning to work with Walsingham Planning where he now works as a Chartered Town Planner, having recently achieved his RTPI accreditation.
He has been a member of the Bristol Region Young Planners Committee since early 2023.