Meet our judges

Karen Britton is the Head of Spatial Planning and Economic Development, Maidstone Borough Council. Prior to joining Maidstone BC, she was the Planning Manager (Development and Engagement) for Canterbury City Council and has a wide remit including strategic planning, planning engagement, neighbourhood plans, heritage, town centre strategies, masterplans, design codes and urban design and development compliance. A Chartered Town Planner with extensive planning and heritage experience. Karen previously managed the Planning Policy and Conservation Team at East Northamptonshire District Council leading the council’s work on the high profile “Barnwell Manor legal case”, which nationally spearheaded the protection of heritage assets. Karen is also a guest lecturer at the University of Kent.

In 2019 she led her team to receive the South East RTPI Planning Award for Heritage and Culture with “A Heritage Strategy for Canterbury District” which places heritage at the heart of social and economic development at Canterbury. Karen’s aim is to breathe new life into planning and bring it to a wider audience including local communities and schools.

Laura is a Senior Planner at Gillings Planning with experience in the public, private and third sector. Laura has been involved with the RTPI since she was a student member in various roles including the Young Planner Trustee and Chair of the South Coast Young Planners Network.  Laura was awarded RTPI South East Young Planner of the Year in 2019 and featured on the Woman of Influence list for 2022.

Laura’s experience includes projects in the education, residential and care sectors. Laura enjoys running public consultation events and connecting with future generations with planning through school and university talks. Outside of work Laura runs a Brownie unit, where she goes by the name of Flamingo, loves reading, podcasts and enjoys long walks… especially when they end at the pub!

Stephen is a Chartered Fellow of the RTPI, Deputy Head of Profession for Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Fellow of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.  With over 30 years of experience working across the UK, in the public and private sectors at National, Regional, County and District levels he is also a member of the RTPI South East Regional Activities Committee.  His work for the MOD has involved projects as far afield as the Ascension Islands and Belize.  He led the Town Planning work on the RTPI-SW & Sanctuary Award Winning Salisbury Plain Army Rebasing Plan, part of the largest relocation of British people since the Second World War  He’s currently working on some major redevelopments to deliver thousands of houses and new technical accommodation through consolidations of sites used by UK and US Visiting Forces.

Stephen say " Being a judge is a privilege and I’m keen to see achievements recognised and championed as good practice for others to learn from and follow”.

Simon is the Immediate past chair of RTPI South East region. He is a Senior Planning Officer and has gained his planning experience in central and local Government. He has focused on developing national and local planning policy, especially on retail, transport and infrastructure matters. Simon is a Chartered member of the RTPI and has been involved with the RTPI South East since 2018. He also supports the Kent Young Planners Network and has been a Steering Group member since July 2017. Simon takes a keen interest in infrastructure policy as well as issues surrounding community engagement in the plan-making process and promoting town planning as a profession. 

Simon says “I am hugely honoured to be part of this year's judging panel for the Regional Awards, as it is an opportunity to celebrate and champion our amazing work throughout the South East. I hope that everyone, not only celebrates with us, but to feel proud and inspired with what is happening in our Region. Good luck to all our entrants!”

Eleanor is known for her friendly yet no-nonsense approach. She has a range of public and private sector experience gained across the public and private sector ranging from preparing Local Plans to promoting schemes of 2,500+ homes.  Over the years Eleanor has developed an interest in community and Neighbourhood Planning helping a number of groups turn their ideas into 'made' plans. In 2014 she was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Neighbourhood and Community Planning. Eleanor is a past chair of the South East Regional Activities Committee and is also an assessor for the RTPI’s APC process.

Ellie says "I’ve always be passionate about celebrating excellent planning practice when so many are keen to talk down what we do. Joining the judging panel gives me an opportunity to look at some of the best projects across the South East and celebrate what planning is achieving".

Chris is a Lecturer in Planning at the University of Reading. He is a chartered planner and started his career as a planning policy officer in English local government, following a PhD at the University of Sheffield. His research interests focus on issues of professionalism, decision-making and multi-scalar plan-making. He joined Real Estate & Planning in August 2019 as a Lecturer in Planning, with research interests in plan-making and professionalism.

Chris previously worked at Anglia Ruskin University and as a Planning Policy Officer for Bassetlaw District Council. Prior to this, he studied for his PhD at the University of Sheffield. His PhD draws on different ways in which the ‘public interest’ can be understood, and how these variations are present in plan-making. The fieldwork explored case studies of spatial plan-making in Central Lincolnshire and the Peak District National Park, using multiple qualitative methods. At the core of Chris’ research interests is understanding the relationship between normative theories of planning and the practice environment; both how planning theory should shape practice and how practice should influence the development of theory.

Chris says "I really enjoy learning about the people and exploring the interesting projects that are entered into the awards – it’s great to be part of recognising what good planning can achieve!”

Karen Jones is a partner and head of law firm Blandy & Blandy’s leading Planning & Environmental Law team.

She is a highly regarded planning and environmental lawyer with over 30 years' experience in advising on strategic planning, planning appeals, public inquiries and environmental law, particularly nature conservation law.

Karen is a legal associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute (LARTPI) and holds both an LLB (Hons) Law and LLM Environmental Law from University College London. She previously taught at the College of Law and has lectured at the University of Reading's renowned School of Real Estate & Planning, part of Henley Business School.

Blandy & Blandy was ranked among the UK's top 15 Planning Law firms in Planning magazine’s 2022 Planning Law Survey and is consistently recognised as a top tier firm in the UK's leading guides to law firms, Chambers UK and The Legal 500. Karen has also been individually recommended in both guides, with the latter naming her a 'leading individual' in the field, and she was acknowledged as one of the top 10 Planning Law solicitors in the UK in the 2020 Planning Law Survey.

Cian is an experienced regeneration, planning, development professional with expertise in establishing and delivering programmes to drive regeneration, develop affordable housing and drive efficiency and income from Council assets.

In local government, Cian had corporate level responsibility for the delivery of planning services, major regeneration projects and estates, commercial property investment strategies, and estate regeneration. Cian’s experience in setting up joint ventures and development partnerships will help us navigate the space where the public sector, private sector and local communities combine.

Cian was Chairman of the RTPI Southeast Region in 2019 and was formerly a member of the General Assembly. Cian has a dual honours degree in History and Geography and a Masters in Planning and Sustainable Development from the National University of Ireland, and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Sussex. 

Cian say "The RTPI regional awards are the best way for planners to champion the good work they do and the difference that they make to people's lives. Spending time with the entrants and other judges will be a great way to see, understand and celebrate the many achievements of planners in the region".

Catriona is an independent consultant providing support on a wide range of spatial planning issues but specialises in strategic/ joint planning arrangements and has authored three major publications on the subject.

Catriona is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s England Policy Committee, is Deputy Chair of the Town and Country Planning Association and Strategic Planning Specialist for the Planning Officers’ Society.

In 2022 Catriona was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Oxford Brookes University for her services to Planning, was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute and was one of the Planner magazine’s Women of Influence.

Peter joined Gillings Planning as a Director in mid-2022 bringing a wealth of planning consultancy experience. Prior to his move into the private sector, Peter worked as a planning policy officer at two local authorities located on the South Coast and as a Planning Adviser for Central Government, where he worked on the Community Infrastructure Levy.

With a strong background and expertise in residential planning work, much of Peter’s work involves the promotion of sites through local plans, but he also project manages the preparation of planning applications for residential and other schemes, including large and complex development projects.

Peter is an expert on how nutrient neutrality relates to planning and he regularly provides advice to a wide range of clients on this issue, helping them to quantify their scheme impacts and secure appropriate mitigation.

Peter was delighted to be asked to join the RTPI South East Awards Judging Panel for 2023 where he will use his skills and experience to help promote good planning and placemaking across the South East.

Lara has worked across the built environment sector gaining experience in regeneration, planning and sustainability and has been a Chartered Member of the RTPI since 2013. She has a particular interest in improving the planning, design and management of the public realm as well as improving engagement with communities and stakeholders. Lara is Head of Regeneration and Sustainable Economy at Mid Sussex District Council leading teams delivering sustainable economic growth, regeneration and achievement of the Council’s Net Zero targets.

Lara say, “I am passionate about promoting built environment professions, working with schools and pupils of all ages to help them learn about the importance of our built environment and the key roles planning and other professions play. These awards are a great way of showcasing the fantastic work we do and the huge contribution planners and planning make.”