Chris

Senior Planning Officer

Chris assesses major and complex Planning applications.

Chris has been with us for seven years, and over this time, has progressed to become a Senior Planning Officer in our team, based in Bath. "I have been tasked with more complicated and more rewarding work," he says. "I have also been afforded greater responsibility in supporting junior members of staff, leading service improvement projects and taking important decisions." His career development has brought many opportunities to increase his professional skills: "My varied workload has increased in complexity and has allowed me to improve core skills, from communication and negotiation to time management and organisation. Access to regular training courses has also helped to expand my thinking about planning in general and improved my professional understanding."

Chris appreciates how flexible working arrangements allow him to manage his working hours, his commute and save on travel costs, but most importantly, make space for family time. Although he can work at all of our offices throughout the region, he particularly enjoys the team's regular base: "Being located in the centre of Bath is fantastic. It is a great city which has so much going on, alongside its beautiful Georgian architecture and town planning. Comparing this to working on a business park somewhere makes all the difference when taking a lunch break."

Chris says that "the most rewarding part of the team's work is seeing successful completed developments which deliver high quality places which people enjoy. This has always been part of my rationale for becoming a planner. I also take satisfaction from the delivery of a good customer service." He rates B&NES highly as an employer. Compared with the two other local authorities he's worked for, he says the council "pays better, offers more flexibility and has better working environments. Furthermore, it is more forward thinking and more dynamic in responding to changing environments."