MEET THE TEAM
Read moreMEET THE TEAM
Will Brearley MPlan MRTPI
Director
On graduating from the University of Liverpool, Will spent 7 years at Lichfield District Council where he was the officer responsible for assessing major projects/applications. Will left local authority in 2012 and has worked in private consultancy since.
Will enjoys working within a team, an essential skill in planning consultancy at all levels, and excels at navigating planning obstacles for a diverse range of clients from large PLCs and national companies (housebuilders, pub companies and commercial clients) to SMEs and individuals.
He has experience in all planning matters and is well connected with excellent and longstanding professional relationships with technical consultants, architects, land agents and developers. Will works across England and Wales and is familiar with both planning systems.
Paul Harris MASP MRTPI
Director
Paul joined Vista Planning as a partner in 2023 having spent the previous 9 years working at a West Midlands practice, leaving as Planning Director. Before that he spent the best part of a decade in various Development Management roles at Lichfield District Council working alongside Will.
Happiest when devising a strategy to unlock a problem, Paul is a strong negotiator, delivering successful outcomes for a wide ranging client base including national housebuilders, purpose built student accommodation providers, pub cos and private individuals in both strategic and immediate arenas. Paul is skilled at assembling the right multi disciplinary team to suit each project and budget.
Charlotte El Hakiem BA (Hons) MRTPI
Director
Charlotte is a Chartered Town Planner with over 20 years of wide-ranging experience of complex residential, commercial, rural and heritage projects. Following an extensive career in the public sector, Charlotte moved to the private sector. Formerly a director of a national multi-disciplinary planning consultancy she is an established consultant and specialist within development management planning.
Charlotte has excellent project co-ordination skills and manages schemes from conception through to completion. She takes pleasure in successfully managing multi-disciplinary teams. Charlotte prides herself on creative thinking, problem solving and planning effective strategies.
Charlotte is passionate and enjoys building strong client relationships ranging from private individuals, commercial developers to national house builders. She loves the buzz and challenge of gaining planning permission whatever the scale of project!
Andrew Brough BSc MSc PGCE MRTPI
Principal Planner
As Head of Geography at a Midlands secondary school, Andrew’s former profession has given him an ideal platform for his career in planning. Andrew moved into consultancy following a grounding in local government. He has a real love of the profession which comes through when he speaks to clients, peers and officers.
As a natural problem solver, Andrew combines skill with great enthusiasm and tenacity in delivering successful outcomes for his clients. Andrew is experienced on a wide range of developments types and has a particular strength when dealing with rural and agricultural developments.
Julie Gillion
Executive Assistant
Having spent many years working as an administrative officer for the civil service before joining the sector to assist planning consultants in managing their caseload and undertaking a wide range of other support tasks.
Julie joined Vista Planning in 2024 to assist the planning team and is an important part of the smooth running of the practice. Having spent the last 6 years working closely with planners, Julie is familiar with the planning system from an administrative perspective and is therefore well placed to assist in the delivery of your projects.