Helen Hartley, our Associate Planning Director.

Helen is part of the Land and Planning team at Russell LDP and Russell Homes and has a range of experience in the land, development & property industry. Working across the businesses for 5 years, Helen’s role involves identifying land opportunities, developing planning strategies, promoting land and managing planning applications. She is currently busy managing the planning applications for Northern Gateway, a scheme for 12 million sq ft of commercial floorspace and 1,500 dwellings.

Sharing insight into her career, Helen has had a range of job roles throughout the industry, climbing the ranks and gaining a wide range of knowledge along the way. Helen explains more below:

What made you choose a career in Planning and Development?

I’ve always loved Geography, and Planning felt like a natural move from that. I enjoy how multi-faceted planning is and the number of considerations that need to be weighed up, from technical to legal to political. The complex reality of it is something that really appealed to me, as well as the variety it provides from one day to the next.

How did you get into the Planning and Development industry?

I did Geography at Sheffield University, followed by a masters in Planning at Manchester. I landed my first role within an in-house planning team at a property developer, which quickly gave me enough experience to successfully apply for my RTPI accreditation. I then moved into a planning consultancy for several years before joining Russell LDP and Russell Homes in 2019.

What do you like most about your role and the company?

The best thing about my job role is probably the variety of issues I am involved in, and being able to take a holistic view of how a project comes together. I’m lucky to work within a very talented team at Russells and I’m always learning. We’re always sharing and discussing the latest developments in the industry and seeking to understand the implications of ever-changing guidance and politics. Russell LDP and Russell Homes have also supported me in balancing my work/life obligations, providing a flexible environment and supporting me during and after my maternity leave.

What would you say to women looking to join the industry?

Build your network as you go along. Fellow professionals within the industry are a great source of support and knowledge.

Follow the links for more information on International Women's Day and this years theme, Accelerate Action.