Introducing May Hope
May is Head of strategic planning and design, within the wider planning service. May shares her enthusiasm for town planning in this interview. She articulates how she wanted to learn about the functioning and development of cities and towns, emphasising the importance of maintaining their sustainability as they evolve over time. Additionally, May provides insights into her daily workflow and imparts valuable advice to aspiring planners she mentors.
What inspired you to get into your job?
My interest in understanding how places and building's function, as well as my interests for climate change began during my studies for my GCSEs and the selection of my A level subjects. Opting for geography, business studies, maths and Chinese as subjects, I initially contemplated pursuing architecture. However, the lengthy duration of study deterred me from that path. Instead, I was drawn to town planning, captivated by the role of cities and places fostering community interaction.
I pursued a degree in town planning at the Bartlett School of Planning at UCL, subsequently gaining experience at a planning consultancy. To further my expertise, I undertook a master's degree to achieve accreditation with the Royal Town Planning Institute, which required an additional two years of study. Although the duration ended up being seven years, this journey deepened my understanding of how places work together, extending beyond buildings to encompass their surrounding areas.
My motivation for getting where I am now is mainly from my passion for creating places that enhance community wellbeing and algin with sustainability objectives.
How does a typical workday morning start for you?
My work schedule doesn’t adhere strictly to the traditional nine to five routine. Instead, I embrace the mornings as an opportunity for some intense exercise, a long run or a relaxing walk allowing me to clear my head and set a positive tone for the day ahead. I intentionally delay logging in just before nine o'clock.
During this time, I prioritise clearing any overnight emails and promptly responding to any enquiries from members of the team. I remain accessible for my team maintaining flexibility for impromptu discussions. Once these tasks are addressed, my day typically transitions into collaborative efforts work with my team, consultants, as well as senior officers and council members, often involving briefings and strategic planning sessions.
Whilst, my mornings are dedicated to team matters and queries, I reserve afternoons for focused, ideally.
Although predominantly office-based, I occasionally venture out for site visits, such as conducting walkabouts or leading tours for council members. For instance, last year, I organised a bus tour of key sites within the borough, discussing site constraints and proposals with the council's leadership team.
Overall, my days are characterised by extensive collaboration and strategic planning, ensuring effective management of both team responsibilities and external engagement.
What advice would you have liked to have had about your profession if you were just starting out now?
I highly recommend immersing oneself in all aspects of planning, rather than confining expertise to only specific parts of planning.
Reflecting on my own experience, I wish I had sought more exposure to development management early in my career as a graduate.
So, my advice for aspiring planners, is to explore diverse aspects of planning. Understanding strategic planning and the practical application of planning policies to various schemes is essential. I emphasise the importance of versatility and encourage them to explore different roles within the field rather than remaining in one area.
What is the highlight of your role so far and what has been your biggest learn to date?
One of my main achievements at the council was to create and approve high-level development plan documents within our political environment and technical teams. This included Edmonton Leeside area action plan, Meridian Water supplementary planning document, and the emerging local plan, which took more than four years to reach its draft-final stage. Plan making demands a lot of hard work and commitment.
Another highlight of my career in general, was when I collaborated with two different authorities. This was a difficult task because they had different political and planning contexts. The result was a joint area action plan, a planning framework covering 25-years at Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.
Another result, outside of the council, was being part of some major schemes. For example, the Olympic Park and its legacy master planning, Google headquarters building, and Great Ormond St Hospital.
These projects helped me develop some valuable skills for my current role. I have learned a lot from engaging with politicians and communities, as well as working within a multi-disciplinary environment.
What are your future professional aspirations?
As a practitioner, my primary goal is to ensure that communities evolve in a sustainable manner. This encompasses not only designing aesthetically pleasing places, but also ensuring that they are environmentally and socially sustainable. This ethos has been a consistent thread throughout my career journey.
In my current role, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to enact these principles. My passion for sustainable development has guided me as a practitioner, shaping my approach to planning. As I advanced into senior management positions, I remain deeply rooted in my identity as a town planner.
My current aspiration is to deliver the highest quality outcomes for Enfield. Even as my responsibilities expand, my commitment to sustainable development remains.