About Us
Established in 2009, Planning Insight has become one of the most dynamic and well-respected planning consultancies in London.
We work with a diverse range of clients both private and commercial across the UK. We have built our reputation always offering ‘trusted advice, outstanding service and tailored solutions’ – no matter how big or small the project.
Our dedicated team of highly qualified and friendly professionals, thrive on challenging situations and environments, getting to know our clients on a personal as well as commercial basis, so that we can develop long lasting and effective working relationships.
Meet the team
Our dedicated team of highly qualified and friendly professionals, thrive on challenging situations and environments, getting to know our clients on a personal as well as commercial basis, so that we can develop long lasting and effective working relationships.
Position: Founder and Managing Director
Peter Higginbottom
Peter is a highly experienced Chartered Town Planner who has a detailed understanding of a wide range of town planning issues, together with expertise in the management of consents for a range of project types, including private commercial developments and major infrastructure schemes.
Peter specialises in providing advice and obtaining consents on behalf of developers, architects, public sector organisations and contractors, successfully delivering tangible results on behalf of both private and public sector clients. He has led on planning and consents on the Northern Line Extension and Crossrail projects and a number of major residential developments in London.
Peter was recently the Planning and Consents Manager as part of the HS2 Curzon Street Station and Old Oak Common design team and continues to advise strategic clients on their developments.
Peter specialises in providing advice and obtaining consents on behalf of developers, architects, public sector organisations and contractors, successfully delivering tangible results on behalf of both private and public sector clients. He has led on planning and consents on the Northern Line Extension and Crossrail projects and a number of major residential developments in London.
Peter was recently the Planning and Consents Manager as part of the HS2 Curzon Street Station and Old Oak Common design team and continues to advise strategic clients on their developments.
Position: Associate Director
Penny Gratwicke
Penny is an experienced Chartered Town Planner and has worked in private sector consultancy for over 15 years, largely focussing on developments within London and the South East. Penny joined Planning Insight in November 2023, having previously worked for national consultancies including Gerald Eve, GVA (now Avison Young) and JLL. Penny provides advice on strategic and local planning issues and has worked on projects ranging from changes of use and alterations and extensions, through to the delivery of major new redevelopment proposals.
Penny has a particular interest in schemes involving heritage assets and has obtained numerous consents for applications involving listed buildings and those located within conservation areas.
Penny has a particular interest in schemes involving heritage assets and has obtained numerous consents for applications involving listed buildings and those located within conservation areas.
Position: Associate
Alex Richards
Alex is a qualified Town Planner and an Associate member of the RTPI. Alex’s initial planning experience was within the London Borough of Newham’s Major Developments Team. After qualifying, he joined an established planning consultancy in south west London. He worked on a range of projects focussing on the London market. Alex enjoys a challenge, particularly where contemporary issues in planning are at the forefront.
He is currently advising on several major residential schemes in Croydon and Essex, as well as promoting a new community building in Newham. He has had experience with office development across London and has had experience with restaurants, pubs and contentious new takeaway outlets. Alex has had experience with all of appeal routes, including several public inquiries.
He is currently advising on several major residential schemes in Croydon and Essex, as well as promoting a new community building in Newham. He has had experience with office development across London and has had experience with restaurants, pubs and contentious new takeaway outlets. Alex has had experience with all of appeal routes, including several public inquiries.
Position: Associate
Philippa Baruch
Phil is a Chartered Town Planner with experience navigating complex planning applications, as well as the permitted development process and establishing lawful development in tricky circumstances.
Phil joins Planning Insight from a practice in the north of England, where she had a track record in gaining approval for a variety of schemes across the UK, both through the planning system and at appeal, including residential schemes, holiday lodge and park home schemes, farm diversification and wedding venues, and Green Belt development.
She enjoys the new issues and challenges each project brings, identifying strategies to solve problems and achieve better outcomes, and providing meaningful advice to clients. Phil has a particular interest in case law and issues of lawfulness.
Phil joins Planning Insight from a practice in the north of England, where she had a track record in gaining approval for a variety of schemes across the UK, both through the planning system and at appeal, including residential schemes, holiday lodge and park home schemes, farm diversification and wedding venues, and Green Belt development.
She enjoys the new issues and challenges each project brings, identifying strategies to solve problems and achieve better outcomes, and providing meaningful advice to clients. Phil has a particular interest in case law and issues of lawfulness.
Position: Senior Planner
Billy Whitehead
Billy is working towards Chartered Membership of the RTPI via the Licentiate Route. Billy’s experiences have come from both the public and private sectors, having first worked at Local Planning Authorities in Greater Manchester dealing with a variety of applications, across a wide range of projects. He later joined an established planning consultancy in Central Manchester that focused predominantly on residential-led developments across the north-west before moving to London.
Billy is currently advising on a range of permitted development schemes, including change of uses and upward extensions across several London boroughs. Having previously worked within Local Planning Authorities, he has an understanding of the planning system and how both public and private sector roles co-exist. Billy is enthusiastic about the topic of regeneration, and the role of place in informing high-quality planning decisions.
Billy is currently advising on a range of permitted development schemes, including change of uses and upward extensions across several London boroughs. Having previously worked within Local Planning Authorities, he has an understanding of the planning system and how both public and private sector roles co-exist. Billy is enthusiastic about the topic of regeneration, and the role of place in informing high-quality planning decisions.