Planning career snapshot: Raoul Veevers

For our final article to mark World Town Planning Day (8th November), Raoul Veevers, UK Head of Planning, explains how he got into planning and why he thinks the role offers a rewarding career.

My entry into planning was a serendipitous turn of events. After reassessing my initial aspirations in law, I discovered a fascinating collection of subjects that formed the discipline of Town and Country Planning. This unexpected pivot led me away from my earlier LA Law-inspired dreams (a nod to the 90s TV show) and towards a career path that would prove to be both challenging and rewarding. The obligatory work experience led to a job offer from Drivers Jonas, led to a move from Manchester to London and the heady heights of planning at Montagu Evans in the early 00’s. A few regeneration schemes, a couple of shopping centres, some tall buildings and many fascinating projects (most proud of Hallsville Quarter, The Bull Ring and The Former Stock Exchange), clients and colleagues later, I find myself head of planning at JLL. 

Planning is the keystone of the property life cycle, creating opportunity and unlocking significant value whilst creating the places we live, work and play in. Each project is different and brings with it a new set of challenges. Being at the forefront of development, it has the responsibility to respond to and mitigate the challenges facing our future, whether that is related to climate, infrastructure or the environment, or all three. Never has it been so challenging as the present to balance the need to deliver growth of new homes and jobs with the impact of doing so on the environment. The constant evolution of these challenges has transformed, and will continue to transform, our approach to development. How we use our property assets? What we do with them when they’re no longer useful? What does decarbonised climate positive property look like and can we afford to do it or do we not have a choice?

Looking ahead, I believe the area of planning that will see the most change over the next 10 years is technology. Particularly, artificial intelligence is likely to be used to speed up and streamline the application process, making it more cost-effective. This technological advancement could revolutionise how we approach planning tasks and decision-making processes.

Planning plays a significant role in all of our futures. This is reflected in its recent renaissance. Since its inception it has never been more discussed, more reformed and more under resourced. It is overburdened and to function effectively it needs to be resourced appropriately. On World Town Planning Day we should highlight the rewarding, challenging and interesting careers planning can offer and encourage more people into the profession.

For those considering a career in planning, my advice would be to be curious and ask questions. Only then will you be informed enough to make decisions. This curiosity and willingness to learn are crucial in a field that's constantly evolving and facing new challenges.

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