Expanding our Stratford-upon-Avon team

We are delighted to have further bolstered our Stratford-upon-Avon team with the appointment of two assistant town planners.

Following a significant increase in demand for planning services in the West Midlands, John Carlon and Jack Brookes will be responsible for helping to secure planning permissions for developers, landowners and homeowners, as well as assisting with strategic projects and development management.

John has joined us following more than two years as a development management officer at Malvern Hills and Wychavon district councils, where he mostly focused on agricultural and farm diversification proposals.

Prior to this, he completed a masters degree in urban and regional planning at the University of Birmingham in 2022. Before embarking on his planning career, John was a news reporter and magazine editor, covering rural life, faith communities and local democracy.

He said: “I’m excited to join such a well-established and renowned consultancy that is ideally placed to address our most pressing land use challenges, from housing to infrastructure. My goal is to bring valuable local planning authority development management insights to the team while working towards achieving RTPI chartership.”

Jack has joined us from Laurence Associates, where he worked on a range of planning reports and statements and development proposals. He completed a masters degree in urban planning at Newcastle University in 2023.

He said: “I was attracted to Marrons because of its reputation as one of the fastest-growing planning consultancies in the UK. It is an excellent company that is making a significant impact in the industry, and I’m excited to contribute to its growth and success in the West Midlands.

“I look forward to taking on more responsibility and working directly with clients to help them overcome their planning challenges, while continuing to progress in my career at Marrons and, hopefully, become a chartered town planner in 2025.”

John and Jack will primarily be based at our Stratford-upon-Avon office but will be working with clients nationally.

The Stratford-upon-Avon team takes the lead in developing our offering in the area, providing services including securing planning permission for development and promoting greenfield and brownfield land to meet future housing and employment needs.

Gary Stephens, partner and town planning consultant, said: “There has been a significant increase in demand for our services due to our high success rate in achieving planning permissions for clients. We have significant growth plans in the business, and John and Jack’s appointments will strengthen the team and bring new ideas and skills to unlock sites. We are thrilled to have them on board.”