TOWN planner Paul Barton, who lives in West Malvern, has joined the land development team of commercial property specialist Bruton Knowles in Gloucester.

With nearly 20 years’ experience in handling both urban and rural planning issues across the Midlands and further afield, Mr Barton is looking forward to helping landowners and businesses move projects forward.

He said: “The Government’s decision to overhaul the planning system in a bid to kickstart the construction sector has made life interesting and there remain good opportunities, especially in the residential sector given the historical under supply of housing. As we head in to 2015 I believe there is an element of uncertainty as to which schemes will and which will not be looked on favourably. As always local, expert advice is essential in evaluating and adding value to development projects. "

Team manager Angus Taylor added: “Paul is an experienced planning consultant with whom our land development team have worked in the past, providing us with a really good opportunity to grow this area of work both as an expansion of our development capacity but also as a separate specialist skill. The rate at which the economy has recovered - even out here in the regions - has taken many commentators by surprise and it is vital we have a suitably experienced and qualified planning team."