Planning, building and the environment

New chief planner to drive forward next generation of communities

Published 20 May 2008

The Government's vision for vibrant and sustainable communities was given a boost today with the announcement of a new highly skilled Chief Planner by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.

The Government's ambitious reforms will make the planning system faster and fairer with people and councils engaged in shaping their communities. The new Chief Planner has been appointed to help drive forward this agenda.

Steve Quartermain will spearhead the Government's drive to ensure the planning system supports the delivery of housing growth, climate change, sustainable economic development and works to protect and enhance the natural environment.  

As Chief Planner his priorities will include helping local councils deliver their local plans for better housing and sustainable communities. He will also drive forward our ambitions to strengthen the skills and capacity of planning departments through encouraging new professionals and graduate into planning careers.

Steve Quartermain is currently Executive Director of Hambleton District Council where the planning service he led was recognised for its high quality work. Steve brings 29 years of planning experience to the role and as President of the Planning Officers Society he has already represented the planning profession at a national level.

Planning Minister, Caroline Flint said:

"This is an important appointment. The new Chief Planner will play a vital role shaping the future of planning.

"Steve Quartermain's appointment will be key to ensuring we work well with councils and local planners so the planning system delivers the best possible local plans that have high quality housing and infrastructure with environmentally friendly developments for communities.

"As Chief Planner Steve will also help drive forward our ambitions to improve the skills and capacity of planners across the profession."

On his appointment as the Government's new Chief Planner Steve Quartermain said:

"I am delighted to take up this role. It is a challenging and exciting time for planners in Government, councils and through out the profession. My aim as Chief Planner is to make a positive contribution toward ensuring that planning promotes the development of prosperous and vibrant communities."

Already planning reforms are changing how we will live in the future with big reductions in carbon emissions, more affordable housing and local plan lead communities that can thrive in a sustainable way. Planners are central to that vision and a highly skilled planning sector is central to that as they help shape communities making them places where people want to live or raise a family.

A Government scheme is already helping more students to become planners through bursaries for post graduate courses at 15 Universities. Since 2004 over 500 students have already graduated and this year (2008/2009) a further 105 will get their tuition fees fully funded and help with the cost of living grants.

To encourage more students to enter public sector planning from this year students awarded bursaries will be asked to agree to work two of their first five years of employment after qualifying in the public sector.

Notes to editors

1. Steve Quartermain was educated at Lord Williams Grammar School, Thame before reading Geography at St Chads College, Durham University. His first job as a trainee planner was at Epping Forest District Council where he completed his post-graduate qualification in Environmental Planning in 1984. Following a period of work at Dartford Borough Council, Steve moved to Hambleton in 1986 where he has held several senior posts, becoming Director of Planning and Environmental Services in 1998.

Hambleton District Council achieved an excellent CPA rating and last year was a Beacon Council for using the planning system to create sustainable communities. A strong advocate of planning, Steve has worked with the POS to promote good practice and is currently the POS President. A member of the RTPI since 1982, Steve has worked as a peer support for other authorities.

Steve is married to Celia and they have 4 grown up children. Apart from his family, Steve's interests are music and Norwich City Football Club.

2. On top of the Housing and Planning Delivery Grant allocated to councils for PDG for skills funding Communities and Local Government has also given the Economic and Social Science Council (ESRC) almost £5m to run and fund the student bursary scheme.

3. Over 90 per cent of post graduate bursaries awarded have gone to students who gained first class or 2:1 undergraduate degrees. Between 2004-2008 over 50 per cent of bursaries went to women, almost 10 per cent to minorities and 99 per cent of bursary winners successfully graduated.

4. From the 2004-2005 graduating class 97 (35.6%) took up employment in LPAs, 93 (34.1%) in private planning consultancies and the remaining students have pursued careers in the voluntary sector and other public bodies.

5. The 15 universities who offer RTPI accredited one year full time post graduate planning courses in England:

  1. Birmingham City University (formally UCE)
  2. Leeds Metropolitan University
  3. Liverpool John Moore's University
  4. London South Bank University
  5. Oxford Brookes University
  6. Sheffield Hallam University
  7. University College, London
  8. Kingston University
  9. University of Liverpool
  10. University of Manchester
  11. University of Newcastle upon Tyne
  12. University of Reading
  13. University of Sheffield
  14. University of the West of England at Bristol
  15. University of Westminster

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