Experienced planning partner Dan Mitchell has joined the development consultancy to head operations across the North of England from Wellington Place.
The new office officially opened on 1 August, and marks the next phase in Marrons’ strategic move northwards, following the taking of space with flex operator Cubo in Sheffield.
Marrons’ plan is to grow headcount and also establish a Manchester office in the short term.
Supporting from the outset is Hannah Malyon, who joins as a principal planner on 5 August, bringing five years’ planning and development experience, including valuable experience with the Environment Agency.
Mitchell brings with him 28 years’ experience in the planning and development sector, best known for his time with Barton Willmore – he joined the firm in 2003, was made partner in 2008 and led the Manchester office for a long period, up to and beyond the firm’s absorption into the Stantec group.
He will be responsible for establishing and growing the Northern team, with plans to scale to a team of eight within the next 18 months.
The office will serve a broad geography – from the Scottish borders down to Birmingham – supporting private sector clients, landowners, developers and public sector bodies with a full range of planning services.
Mitchell said: “Leeds is a powerhouse city with enormous potential and a thriving development market. I’m thrilled to be joining Marrons to lead this exciting new chapter. The opportunity to build and shape a new team, while supporting clients with high-quality, commercially focused planning advice, is something I’m incredibly passionate about.”
Mitchell’s wide-ranging experience spans residential, employment, retail and mixed-use development, with specialist expertise in strategic land promotion, planning appeals, local plan examinations and section 106 negotiations.
Brian Mullin, head of Marrons, said: “This is a landmark moment for Marrons. Dan is a proven leader with a deep understanding of the northern market and an exceptional track record of delivering results for clients.
“Both his and Hannah’s appointments – along with the opening of our Leeds office – reflect our commitment to growing our presence across the north and building multidisciplinary teams that can offer creative, effective planning and design solutions.”
Marrons is a multi-disciplinary development consultancy, delivering planning, architecture, urban design, masterplanning, heritage and socio-economic services to a range of clients across the UK.