Bidwells has appointed Laura Jenkinson from Avison Young as head of London planning.
Jenkinson spent more than 12 years at Avison Young and has been a member of the WPA and CPA planning and sustainability committees. Prior to Avison Young, Jenkinson held roles at Brent Council and the Government Office for London.
In her new role, her focus will be on major Zone 1 and 2 projects, working across the City of London, Westminster, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Brent, across a range of sectors including office, residential, hotel and industrial.
Chris Pattison, head of planning at Bidwells, said: “London’s most important and complex schemes, such as mixed-use regeneration, tall buildings and high-profile developments in constrained central locations require advisers who understand the politics of the planning system as well as the technical process. Laura has spent her career working at that intersection and she knows exactly how to operate in that environment. That kind of credibility with decision makers is a rare asset and it is increasingly what our clients need when the stakes are so high.”
Jenkinson added: “The planning system is under more pressure than at almost any point in my career, with stretched local authorities, accelerating policy change and a government that wants to see delivery at speed and scale. In that environment, the firms that will serve clients well are the ones that can translate the complexity of the planning process into a clear route to valuable and deliverable approvals. What Bidwells has assembled in London is a team with the breadth and experience to work across every part of the market. That is not common and it’s why it’s such an exciting time to be leading the team.”
