Q&A: Five minutes with Alistair Walker, technical director at Lanpro

How did you join the property industry?

I came out of university with an MSci in geology in 2010. It was unfortunate timing as the UK unemployment rate was at a 15-year high and I struggled to find a job. By now, I knew I wanted to work in the environmental planning sector and completed an MSc at the University of Leeds, which provided me with a placement while doing my dissertation. This got my foot in the door at Environ (now Ramboll).

What does your job entail?

I lead the environmental impact assessment (EIA) team at Lanpro, providing strategic environmental planning and EIA co-ordination for developers in all sectors.

What do you like most about the industry?

The variety, in both the projects and the people I work with. I have been lucky to work on a range of different types of development – from carbon capture to new towns – and each is in a new location with its own environmental issues and local community specific to that area. This means I get to work with a range of different technical disciplines every time, offering me the chance to always learn something new.

And what do you dislike most about it?

The politics that holds back good development. Inherently, development affects local communities, so impacts local politicians and councils. But my primary issue with the planning system is that major planning applications are decided not by planning officers, with expertise and understanding of the key issues, but by local councillors.

While they may have an understanding of the planning process, this cannot be said for all, and they all have a political mindset in their decision-making, so there is an inherent bias against reaching a balanced, correct decision.

What would you change about the industry?

I would place power more with case officers and less with councillors on planning committees, which is linked to my biggest bugbear, discussed above. This is actually starting to come forward with the adoption of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, due for royal assent before the end of the year.

What barriers or challenges have you overcome?

As an EIA lead, I co-ordinate a wide number of technical disciplines during a project, and notably when finalising an environmental statement. It has been a significant challenge to reach a level of understanding across a large number of technical assessments to critically review draft documents shared by the consultant team.

Who has inspired you in the property sector

The founder of my previous company, John Rhodes, an eminent font of knowledge and understanding of planning, but also an incredibly relaxed, nice and fun man.

What are you most proud of in your career?

Working on the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station. This is one of those ‘pub projects’ you can drop into conversation as everyone knows of it and the success of the restoration, and that in itself is a privilege.

However, what is most pleasing about the restoration work is that the masterplan was environment-led. An example of this is the internal facades of the two halves of the power station being cladded and styled from their respective periods of construction, ie the 1940s and 1950s.

What do you value in people?

A laugh, even when times are really tough.  It is invaluable.

What advice would you give someone starting a career in the property industry?

Say ‘yes’ to anything – you’ll be surprised what you try and enjoy.