Name: Aisling O’Kane
Job title: Director of town planning at Avison Young
What I do: I’m a chartered town planner and director in the place team at Avison Young. I specialise in industrial and logistics. Although I sit in the London team I work nationally with the AY regional offices.
Why I got into the property industry: Through my general interest in geography, I became focused on human geography and the movement of people and goods. After I gained my town planning qualification, the logistics and industrial sector seemed a natural progression.
How I did it: After completing my BA and MA in geography at University College Cork (UCC), I stayed on for a further two years to do masters in planning. I came to the UK for a year (that’s what all my friends were doing!) and stumbled into work at an architects firm where I acted as a planning specialist.
My first proper job: I did a six-month internship at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in Dublin, where I worked with the planning policy team. There I gained a robust understanding of how planning policy is drafted, and ultimately how it can be applied in the real world.
My first big break: Despite turning up 24 hours late for the interview, I was hired by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham as a senior planner in the development management team. This is where I learned the bulk of my trade. I got unique understanding of how a local authorities work, which has been invaluable.
My inspiration(s): Not a person but a sector: industrial and logistics. I love that I’m working in a market that has sometimes been sidelined, and I spend a lot of my time championing it and educating people about it.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: In my view, there is a significant gap in the planning sector’s understanding of the institutional standards required for industrial and logistics buildings. Local planning policies often fail to adequately reflect or accommodate these standards, creating challenges for effective development and viable, operational buildings.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: When I worked at Bridge Industrial we secured planning permission for a three building, 10-unit scheme of about 342,000 sq ft within 11 months from the date of purchase of the site. We worked closely with the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham and the GLA, and it showed me how cohesive engagement and bringing all parties involved on the journey can bring quick and positive results.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: Unlike the housing sector, there is not a standard methodology to determine the level of need of I&L in a location.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: Leading industrial and logistics planning for AY across the UK.
What I do in my downtime: Tennis, family time, travelling, I am unashamedly a fan of going on cruise holidays as you get to see places you wouldn’t normally get to visit!
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: Events planner, I love a good party.
My advice for someone just starting out: Don’t be afraid to have the conversations, don’t be afraid to approach those who have the experience, learn now while you can.
My motto/mantra: Treat others as you’d like to be treated yourself.
