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Council planning team expands to meet push for job creation

Written by: Jez Abbott
Published on: 15 Dec 2014
Category:

A drive to boost employment has led a local authority to expand its planning service by recruiting a new examinations administration officer.

Arun District Council recruited Caroline Pattenden from the National Health Service Trust. She will act between the local planning authority and the Planning Inspectorate.

Head of planning policy and conservation Simon Meecham told Planning: “This is a central role in our department and Caroline will ensure the proper conduct and running of planning examinations.”

Arun, a district of 150,000 people, sits between Portsmouth and Brighton and incorporates the three main towns of Arundel, Bognor Regis (pictured) and Littlehampton.

“As a district we have a strong focus on employment and have designated a specific area, Bognor Regis Enterprise, to accommodate our needs and those of surrounding districts,” said Meecham.

He added the zone had more than 100,000 square metres of employment space and the first tenant was Rolls-Royce.

“This is more employment space than our demographics require, so the area can take on shortfalls from places such as Chichester and Worthing.

“Caroline will programme manage the administration of examinations and inspections for local plan documents, neighbourhood development plans and the community infrastructure levy.”

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