Stephen obtained a 2.1 honours degree in Town and Country Planning from Leeds Polytechnic in 1987. His professional election to the MRPTI was in 1989. He has practised extensively in development control, being at Havant Borough Council and then at Chichester District Council. He progressed through that Council to become Enforcement Team Leader and began his Post Graduate and Masters studies in Environmental Law in 1998. In 2000 he won the Addleshaw Booth & Company Postgraduate Environmental Law Prize. In 2001 he obtained a Masters Degree in Environmental Law.He has wide experience in planning appeals, especially public inquiries, and through his working as Enforcement Team Leader. Through his Masters studies he has gained substantial knowledge of the legal side of planning and nature conservation, specialising in Development Control, Nature Conservation Law, Agricultural Development Control and Rights of Way.Stephen also undertakes s78 and s174 appeal work for local authorities and past contracts have been with Fareham Borough Council; Basingstoke and Deane BC; Waverley BC; Reading; and, North Northamptonshire, including gypsy and traveller appeals.Stephen takes a ‘hands-on’ approach to planning and considers that his enterprising approach enables solutions to be made to many planning problems.