Member Article

Planning Harmony for George F. White

George F. White has announced that Joe Ridgeon has joined its specialist planning team. Joe will deal with a range of planning matters within GFW and specialise in rural planning issues such as conversions, farm diversification schemes, enforcement and sensitive environmental planning. As part of the company’s planning team, he will handle all stages of planning projects from the initial appraisal and application to completion and, if appropriate, appeal. Joe joins George F. White from Dickinson Dees, one of the UK’s top 50 law firms and is no stranger to the song and dance of the planning process. A one time member of Britain’s National Youth Brass Band, he is a serious Euphonium player, and enjoys the challenge of his music almost as much. Joe, who lives in Shotley Bridge, has a degree in Geography, and an MSc in Town Planning ? from Durham and Newcastle Universities respectively. A licentiate member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, he worked at Dickinson Dees after taking his degrees, and became expert in the preparation of planning applications, appeals and representations, and undertook research for public sector and institutional clients. His role also included acting as Area Planning Officer with the former Castle Morpeth Borough Council. Joe is a member of the North East Young Planners’ Steering Group and helped organise last year’s Young Planners Conference in Newcastle. Maria Ferguson Head of Planning & Development at George F. White is delighted in Joe’s appointment, “Joe has a unique mix of experience of both the public and private sector which will be invaluable in helping our clients with the planning process and finding solutions that are acceptable for all parties involved - including the Local Planning Authorities. We are increasingly successful in this area and Joe will be able to help us build on this.? Commenting on his new role, Joe says “I am very pleased to be joining the Planning Team at George F. White and working with some of the region’s leading land and property experts. I am looking forward to being able to add to and use my experience in dealing with a range of planning issues, including applications from commercial and retail through to leisure and tourism.? Joe’s planning work is understandably high level, just like his music ? his euphonium has taken him well into the challenging world of competitive brass band music. Not content with his success in the National Youth Brass Band he currently plays with Chester-le-Street’s championship section brass band, the ‘NASUWT Riverside Band’. To unwind from work ? and serious leisure - he spends the rest of his time cycling, walking and appreciating real ale! George F. White has offices in Alnwick and Tyne Valley in Northumberland, Wolsingham and Barnard Castle in County Durham, Bedale in North Yorkshire, Shiptonthorpe near York and Park Lane in London www.georgefwhite.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barbara Huddart .