Meet The Minds Behind C+A: Claire Parker, senior planning consultant

We have a diverse range of experts at our offices in Preston, Chester, London and Mold supporting our clients across a wide range of disciplines from architecture and town planning to building surveying.

Meet The Minds Behind C+A is a new regular Q&A series published across our channels and designed to shine a light on our people, including their unique expertise, projects they have worked on and what makes them tick in both their personal and professional lives.

In our first article, Claire Parker, senior planning consultant at Cassidy + Ashton’s Preston office, discusses her work on Preston’s Bus Station and Stoneygate, the 15 minute cities concept and some of her favourite travel destinations.

What is your background and what are your areas of expertise?

My everyday tasks include preparing, managing and providing advice on a range of development projects. At the moment, I am heavily involved in a number of residential, commercial and community schemes across the North West.

What first drew you to your profession, and what’s kept you in it?

I enjoyed Geography at school and went on to study it at the University of Liverpool. While there, there was an opportunity to take modules from other disciplines and there was some obvious crossover between Geography and Town Planning, so I took a few in my second and third year. I then went on to do the accredited one-year Master of Civic Design.

I followed up my degree with some work experience with Cassidy + Ashton before starting on a permanent basis in the summer of 2013.

In terms of what has kept me in planning, I enjoy working on projects that I will ultimately get to see in operation and that people are enjoying. I am someone who often points out schemes I’ve worked on while out and about.

Can you describe a moment on a project that made you feel particularly proud?

I have worked on several housing schemes with Blackpool Council which are great as I know that they are being built out in the short-term and will help people and families find their forever homes.

The current housing shortage in the UK is well documented and being able to assist in creating new housing developments that are sustainable, affordable and well-connected to existing neighbourhoods is very satisfying.

Where do you tend to find your best ideas and moments of inspiration?

My colleagues in the planning team. With planning, you often have to manage the requirements of a range of parties and balance these against planning policy to find the best solutions for a development – and those that will ultimately be interacting with it. Having the opportunity to discuss challenges, ideas and solutions with colleagues always helps to determine a way forward.

What’s been the most interesting challenge you’ve worked on recently?

Planning is a fast-paced industry, which can be both enjoyable and challenging. Guidance and legislation are ever-evolving and we have to make sure that we are staying up-to-date with any changes and can apply them to our projects. On that note, we’re looking forward to seeing the revised National Planning Policy Framework later this year!

What building or regeneration project (that you have not worked on) do you admire and why?

As a Prestonian, I am lucky to have worked on a range of schemes in the city, including Preston Bus Station and Stoneygate. I personally really like the market refurbishment, including the Animate scheme, and often find myself there at the weekend to buy ingredients or have a bite to eat.

It is great to see it bringing people into the city centre and hopefully it is just the start for further regeneration and investment here.

If you had a blank canvas to shape a place, town or city, where would it be and what would you do?

I think it would have to be somewhere with a cool climate, not too hot or too cold. I would focus on the 15-minute city format, making sure everyone could live, work and socialise within a walkable distance.

I went to Oslo a few years ago and saw apartment blocks which contained retail and café spaces on the ground floor and then schools and community uses such as libraries and medical facilities interspersed with the residential floors above.

It improved mobility and allowed for large areas around the blocks to be utilised as open green spaces and sports / play facilities. It really opened my eyes to how efficient communities could be.

What do you value most about working at Cassidy + Ashton, and the people you work with?

The ability to work in a collaborative environment and see the direct impact from my work.

Working in a multi-disciplinary company, we have the opportunity to collaborate on a day-to-day basis, sharing ideas and support where needed. The office environment is one where we can focus, develop our skills and work to create the best results. Over the last 12 years, I have been able to be involved on numerous occasions in projects from conception to completion, alongside my colleagues, allowing me to see the tangible results of our work.

What excites you most about the future of the built environment?

It will be interesting to see how improved technology can support our work moving forward. Hopefully, with greater awareness of the impact we have on the environment, it can be used to design and build more sustainable places, which are inclusive, accessible and support healthy lifestyles.

Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time?

Reading (I am currently part way through a LitRPG fantasy series), cooking (or at least trying to) and travelling. I spent three weeks in Japan last year and am currently planning an NC500 road trip for later this year as well as a visit to Sweden.

If you weren’t working in the built environment, what do you think you’d be doing?

It would probably be something to do with animals. I would definitely like to volunteer or get involved with a rescue centre in the future. Although when I was younger I wanted to be an accountant…