Coventry & Warks LEP boosts planning support with new appointment

THE Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub has appointed a new planning consultant to help it improve its overall service to businesses in the area.

CW Growth Hub – formed by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership – is intended as a one-stop-shop for support and advice for businesses. It has appointed Chris Wightman as its independent planning advisor.

Wightman’s new role will see him providing planning advice to expanding companies and working with the local planning authorities and government agencies.  This integrates with the other free advisory services provided at the Growth Hub.

The role was created after feedback from firms in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) sector indicated that their inability to navigate speedily and successfully through the planning process was a significant barrier to growth.

Wightman, who comes from Barwell, near Hinckley, joins the Growth Hub team after 12 years working in Australia.

“I am really excited to return for this role, which I believe will play a tangible part in helping to realise the growth potential for Coventry and Warwickshire,” he said.

“I worked in the private sector in the UK and then in the public sector in Australia so have experienced both worlds.

“Having just arrived back in the area I come at this with a very fresh perspective which I think will be a very positive thing. My aim is to help companies find their way through the system as speedily as possible so they can concentrate on doing what they do best, and have the ability to realise their potential.”

The 41-year-old trained at Newcastle University and worked for Jones Lang LaSalle in London before moving to Australia.

Craig Humphrey, Managing Director of the CW Growth Hub, said: “The LEP has already done some very good work – such as the successful completion of the Planning Protocol for all local planning authorities in Coventry and Warwickshire – and we will continue to work together to deliver a ‘fast track’ planning service for the AME sector.  

“Chris brings a wealth of planning experience from the public and private sector and will work with the CW Growth Hub team to ensure high quality planning outcomes in the required time frames.”