Ken Parke BSc (Hons), Pgdip, MRTPI – Managing Director

Ken graduated from the University of Dundee in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Town and Regional Planning. A further year of study resulted in a post-graduate diploma in Information Technology. He is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a Chartered Town Planning Consultant.

Following positions in London and Cardiff he relocated to the south coast and spent 7 years with a large legal and planning practice as an Associate Planning Consultant where he helped to create a highly profitable planning department.

In January 2003 he fulfilled his ambition of having his own practice and since then has built up a planning team with a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of planning consultancy work from forward planning to development control including specialist expertise in planning procedures and enforcement matters. Ken and his team have successfully represented many clients from private individuals to national plc’s.

Ken has particular experience in the South East Dorset conurbation where he has dealt with many appeals including public inquiries, informal hearings and written representations. Ken is familiar with the procedures and individuals within the various surrounding Local Authorities including the political processes. Ken has strong opinions about good planning practice and development control and is well known for his straight talking, no nonsense approach. He is widely accredited and well respected within both sides of the industry for his strong negotiation and problem solving skills.

Robin Henderson MA(Hons) MRTPI – Associate Planning Consultant

Robin studied at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, between 1993 and 1998 and, having done a year full-time work placement as a Planning Officer with Stirling Council, went on to attain an MA (with Honours) in Town Planning. Robin spent the first 5 years of his post-graduate career dealing with planning applications and appeals as a Planning Officer for 2 Councils in East Sussex, following which he joined the private sector gaining specialist expertise in the mobile telecommunications and utilities sector and retirement/care housing. Robin took the opportunity of joining Ken Parke Planning Consultants Ltd in 2008 and has helped numerous clients realise their aspirations since that time.

A Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute since 2000, Robin has a proven track record of meeting client’s expectations and achieving numerous successful planning consents at local level and at appeal.

Angela Parke – Financial Director

Angela’s career began with 10 years in financial planning with a large bank and a specialist insurance provider and 5 years in financial sales, marketing and national advertising. Angela heads the finance and marketing section of the practice. Angela feels strongly that accuracy, communication and excellent customer service are key to meeting our client’s needs and running a successful practice.

Angela has several years of direct planning experience within the Private Sector having lived and breathed planning with Ken since they formed the practice in January 2003! Angela is well versed in the planning process and the myriad of issues that can arise. She has experience in writing Design & Access statements, Appeal statements and negotiating applications with the Local Authorities. Her experience of dealing with financial documentation has also made her an authority on drafting Section 106 agreements for financial contributions which saves our client’s endless legal fees.

Kathryn Burdett – Office Manager

Kat is the first port of call for all our client’s queries and this means she always knows what’s going on! Kat is the oracle of the office and keeps everyone organised! She joined the practice in 2006 after a career in the cruise and air services industry. Having to make sure her clients were in the right place at the right time meant that Kat developed outstanding organisational skills. These skills combined with her attention to detail and phenomenal memory for dates, names and addresses make her an invaluable member of the team. Kat has developed a fantastic knowledge of the planning system, processes and personnel. Indeed, many of our clients comment on how refreshing it is that Kat’s knowledge and experience mean that she can often deal with their queries without the need to refer to their consultant!