About Impact Planning Services

Impact Planning Services is an established independent town and country planning consultancy bringing with it a considerable wide range of experience of the planning system across the UK. Those within the Practice have extensive knowledge of the planning system and currently provide consultancy services to the public and private sectors, land owners, developers, trusts, institutions, architects, charities, individuals and home owners. The Practice is proud of its reputation as an independent consultancy capable of finding practical and pragmatic solutions for its clients’ entire town planning needs.

Meet the team

Robert Gillespie, BA (Hons) MRTPI
Managing Director
Robert has been a planning practitioner since 1979 and has been in consultancy for 39 years. Robert decided to establish his own planning consultancy following an extensive and varied career commencing in local government, moving to the private sector in 1984, having been a partner within one of the UK's leading planning consultancies (Chapman Warren), director of a major multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy (RPS Planning Transport and Environment) and finally director of a specialist urban regeneration company.
Bob Wilson, BA (Hons), MSc (Dist) MRTPI
Associate
Robert is a chartered town planner who joined this consultancy in April 2016 following 36 years of experience in local government. That covered both development management and planning policy in councils from the south east, east midlands and south east midlands. Previously Development Plans Manager at Milton Keynes Council (one of the fastest growing local authorities in the country) for over 10 years, Bob successfully steered one of the first Waste Development Plan Documents in the country through to adoption. Following this he led the Core Strategy through from Issues and Options to adoption, when many others were being found to be unsound. Prior to this he directed the Gedling Local Plan through to adoption and in so doing achieved a significant review of the Green Belt.
Rachel Bird, BA (Hons), MPLAN, MRTPI
Senior Planner
Rachel joined the practice as Senior Planner in January 2018, following over five years’ experience working in busy private sector consultancies including Hunter Page Planning and RPS Group. Rachel has a varied experience of private planning practice working on a variety of different projects including renewable energy schemes, individual dwellings and larger residential schemes. This included the preparation, submission and negotiation of planning applications, representations to the Local Plans process and the preparation and submission of planning appeals.
Benjamin Seward, BSc (Hons) AIEMA AMIEnvSc
Principal Researcher & Project Manager (Environmental Policy & Implementation)
Ben joined Impact Planning Services Ltd in early 2014, following the completion of an Environmental Science BSc (Hons) at Plymouth University. Ben's specialises in Environmental Policy and project management. Since joining the practice Ben has developed significant experience in wide variety of projects, which include; crematoria, assisting with the formulation of Local and Neighbourhood Plans, energy from waste developments such as biomass boilers, permitted development residential dwelling conversions, play pitch strategies, and small to medium residential developments. Ben is currently undertaking a MSc (Hons) in Environmental Assessment and Management at Oxford Brookes University. He will complete this course in 2019.
Fung Yee Gillespie BA (Hons)
Practice Manager
Fung Yee came from a Hong Kong based business background however since moving to the UK to study in 1978 has been involved in specialist youth education projects, project management, accountancy and is currently responsible for quality control, project auditing and costing.
Antony Booth BA (Hons) MSc
Antony joined the practice in September 2018 following completion of his studies at Plymouth University. He studied Geography at undergraduate level, graduating after 3 years in 2016 and staying in the city to complete a MA in Planning (accredited by the RTPI). He completed his masters dissertation in September 2017, based on planning for community transport networks infra structurally as well as socially and politically. He is looking forward to beginning his career in planning, building upon the skills and knowledge he has gained at university and becoming a part of a vibrant and successful team in Swindon.
Graduate Planner
Steve Bucknell BSc(Hons) MRICS
Steve is a General Practice Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years’ experience in commercial property development and agency. Having worked in private practice, operational businesses and development companies, covering a wide range of business types including food stores, care homes and crematoria, Steve understands property development from all angles. Outside of work, Steve has been a local councillor (at district and town level) for over 15 years, serving twice as Mayor of Royal Wootton Bassett. This experience enables Steve to see planning issues from the decision-maker’s point of view, greatly assisting in his public consultation work. Steve brings a practical, client-based approach, with the skills needed to drive project teams and find solutions to problems.
Associate

What our Clients think

A practice known for punching above its weight, Impact Planning Services is knowledgeable, committed and enthusiastic.
Nigel Robbins, Cirencester College
I was originally recommended to Rob Gillespie after he had acted on behalf of my neighbour with a difficult planning issue.

I had been having problems with the siting of a stables building. I turned to Rob for his professional guidance and help after the planning application had been turned down by the local council and parish council.

Rob took over and dealt with the borough and parish council, challenging where necessary and managing sensibly my expectations. Success followed, permission was granted and Rob continued to work on my behalf, accessing his network of contacts to satisfy the council conditions. An example would be around the archaeology of the site. I would have no hesitation in recommending Rob.
John Farrelly
Impact Planning Services has always played a full and effective role when engaged to assist us in the formulation and negotiation of planning applications and master plans. A clear understanding of our clients' objectives is matched with a detailed understanding of the planning system, how it operates and how to overcome the many hurdles which can frustrate and delay their projects.
Bill Taylor - Managing Director of Hopkins Architects
First and foremost Rob Gillespie is an excellent planner. He is technically and tactically astute and has an enthusiasm for a project, whether it is promoting a single dwelling (albeit in World Heritage Site) or resisting a 7,000,000 sq. feet distribution facility. It makes him a pleasure to work with.
Peter Goatley
Rob knows his planning policy inside out, and is always up to speed with current, changing and emerging policies, at local, regional and national level. He is hugely experienced having spent 30 years as a professional planning practitioner and advisor.

Having sat with Rob at a public inquiry, have seen at first hand the quality of his preparation and the effectiveness of his argument. He's tenacious, and someone you want to have on your side, not against you. Rob is loyal and has a sense of humour, so he is always a pleasure to work with.

Rob understands land use and development appraisal, so can advise public and private sector clients alike.
Jerry Holmes, Chairman of the Leigh Conservation Area Residents Association

Sponsorship – Northern Ballet

Impact Planning Services currently sponsor Rachael Gillespie, a Soloist and Ashley Dixon a Leading Soloist with Northern Ballet.

Rachael Gillespie

Rachael began dancing at the Judith Hockaday School of Dance and Drama (Swindon) and Central School of Ballet. Rachael joined the Northern Ballet in 2007 and previously danced with Scottish Ballet and Ballet Central.

Ashley Dixon

Ashley is from Hull and trained at Central School of Ballet. He joined Northern Ballet in 2004.

To find out more about the Northern Ballet, or any of the current tours and performances, visit https://northernballet.com