Trio of appointments at PWA Planning

PWA Planning, the Preston headquartered planning and development consultancy, has made three new appointments.

Matthew McHugh and Zach Taylor have been appointed as planner and assistant planner within the Preston office, while Jake Challinor-Smith has joined the practice’s Manchester office as a senior planner.

The trio will support PWA’s work with clients in the residential, commercial, renewable energy and agricultural sectors across the UK.

Paul Walton, managing director at PWA Planning, said: “Jake, Matthew and Zach are great additions to our team, bringing a useful mix of sector experience and planning knowledge with them.

“These appointments take our team numbers to 20 in the North West, which includes 16 planners. Since becoming part of The 1908 Group, we’ve also become part of a far larger UK planning team that’s able to deliver a broader range of specialist services in support of our clients’ aspirations and we’re excited by the many opportunities this brings.” 

Matthew joins from Leith Planning and has gained experience in sectors including residential, health and social care, and town centre regeneration.

Zach comes to PWA from Graham Anthony Associates where he gained experience assisting with planning and design projects in the commercial and residential sectors.

PWA Planning was acquired by NFU Commercial Holdings, the commercial services arm of the National Farmers Union in 2024.

Together with two other planning consultancies, Acorus and Woolf Bond, PWA is now part of The 1908 Group which offers nationwide planning, design and development expertise for the residential, commercial and agricultural sectors.