Russell LDP recently welcomed 19-year-old student, Max from Stockport, for a day of hands-on work experience, providing a practical introduction to the land, development and planning industry.

Hosted by Planning Director Gary Lynch, Associate Planning Director Peter Hilldrup, Design Manager Neil Walker and Marketing Manager Liberty Wootton, the placement was designed to showcase how Russell LDP identifies development opportunities, prepares planning strategies and creates sustainable masterplans to unlock value through our in-house expertise.

Throughout the day, Max worked alongside the team and gained first-hand experience of the planning and development process of the company. The day included:

An introduction to the land, development and planning sector
A session exploring how land opportunities are identified and assessed
A detailed review of a live development site
Preparing a site assessment, including a constraints and opportunities plan
Creating an abstract masterplan based on the findings
Presenting his proposals to the team with feedback
Comparing his ideas against the site's actual development proposals

As part of the exercise, Max analysed the site's wider context, considered key planning constraints and opportunities, and developed a concept for how the land could be brought forward for development.

Max quickly embraced the challenge, asking thoughtful questions and demonstrating a genuine enthusiasm for the profession. Despite having no previous experience in the sector, he left with a clear understanding of land acquisition, site assessments, planning strategies and the role of masterplanning in creating successful developments.

Reflecting on his experience, Max said:

This was right up my street! I really enjoyed taking an aerial view of the site and exploring its potential, whether for a residential placemaking scheme or an industrial employment hub. It was also really fun to develop my own proposal based on what I'd learned during the morning and compare it with the team's plans.

Gary Lynch added:

Max was keen to learn, asked plenty of questions and threw himself into all the tasks set. It was fantastic to see his creative side and his critical thinking around masterplanning.
"Hosting work experience is a brilliant way to inspire the next generation and show them the opportunities available within the planning and development sector, while providing valuable insight into how our business operates.

Providing work experience opportunities is an important part of Russell LDP's commitment to supporting future talent within the property and development industry. By working on a real-world project, Max gained valuable exposure to the skills, disciplines and career pathways involved in land promotion, planning consultancy and masterplanning.

Russell LDP welcomes work experience placements for students interested in careers in land, development, planning and property. To find out more about future opportunities, please email enquiries@russell-ldp.co.uk.