Stephen Bate

Stephen is an experienced chartered town planner (MRTPI since 1988) and a much more recent Urban Designer (RP, 2017). He has a wealth of planning and urban design experience, gained in both the public and private sectors.

Stephen is nearing the end of his career and is currently employed as Senior Planning Officer with Derby City Council. His local government experience (mainly in the West and East Midlands and West Sussex) has focused on development management, and often on planning enforcement. He has been involved in all aspects of considering and determining planning applications, handling appeals, investigating breaches, serving notices, negotiating Section 106 Agreements, presenting reports to Planning Committee, giving evidence at Hearings, Public Inquiries and Court. Management experience includes leading teams, staff recruitment, undertaking appraisals, mentoring, budgeting, dealing with media and Members, training presentations and multi-disciplinary working.

Stephen’s most recent private sector post was with Freeths in Nottingham. His private sector work included project managing planning application submissions, master planning, liaising with consultants, undertaking development plan responses, handling appeals and Section 106 Agreements. Former clients include: Barratt Homes, Alison Homes, Lindum Homes, Blue Anchor Leisure, Lace Market Properties, Simons Developments, HM Estates UK Ltd, Gala Bingo, The Money Shop, B Taylor & Sons Transport.

Stephen is a Planning Aid Volunteer and has undertaken case work for several clients, and community work involving training of Parish Councillors on the practicalities of Section 106 Agreements.

He has written several planning articles and given many training presentations. These include two TCP Summer School Prizes papers (2000 and 2005).