A chartered planner and member of IEMA with practical environmental expertise based on his degree in soil science, diploma in planning and extensive field survey work. He started his career with the Ministry of Agriculture where he was involved in the protection of high quality agricultural land from urban development, and the restoration of mineral sites.He has four decades of experience in providing soil, agriculture and other environmental inputs to the planning system. His particular strength is in the assessment of the effects of development on agriculture, soils, forestry and wildlife habitats. He has worked with teams of civil engineers, planners, architects, and other environmental specialists on projects in both the public and private sectors.In the last 25 years Chris has been involved in technical directorship and the management of multi-disciplinary teams of specialists carrying out various forms of environmental assessment in support of development, land restoration and habitat translocation projects. This includes Appraisals of Sustainability, Environmental Impact Assessments and wildlife Habitat Regulations.He is interested in the quality control of environmental inputs to development projects, overcoming constraints to development, enhancing biodiversity and introducing environmental improvements for the benefit of local communities. He has experience of consultations with planning and statutory authorities (including Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency) and giving evidence as an expert witness at planning inquiries.For 20 years Chris was an annual visiting lecturer on soils for EIA MSc students at Oxford Brookes School of Planning, and he represented the RTPI on the ministerial advisory England Forestry Forum from 1998 to 2006. From 2010 he was Managing Director of Bell Cornwell Environmental Ltd before joining High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd in 2011, From 2018 he has spent most of his time working as an independent consultant.