Partner, Head of Planning Scotland
Mark is Head of Planning for Bidwells in Scotland and based in our Perth office. With 30 years’ experience working in local government and the planning consultancy sector, he has a sound knowledge of all development management and policy related matters.
Mark is a Chartered Town Planner and joined Bidwells in January 2019. His career began with Perth & Kinross Council where he studied part time to gain an HNC in Planning, followed by an MSc in Urban & Regional Planning at Strathclyde University whilst employed as a planning technician. After graduating, he was appointed as a Planning Officer for the Strathearn area in Perth & Kinross Council.
He then joined Turley Associates in Edinburgh in 1998 as a Senior Planner before being promoted to Associate Director.
In January 2005 Mark set up his own company, MBM Planning & Development, operating as a sole practitioner on behalf of private individuals, house builders, private estates, property development companies and retailers.
Mark has represented a range of clients at written representation appeals, local review bodies, hearings and public inquiries as well as development plan hearings throughout Scotland. He was also employed on a part time basis by Aberdeenshire Council as their designated independent Planning Adviser to the Council’s Local Review Body (LRB).
Recent and current projects:
- Peel Land & Property Investments Ltd
Planning permission and legal agreement secured for a terrace of 4,500 sq m of new retail warehouse development at Straiton Retail Park, Midlothian. - Cruden Homes (East) Ltd
Manage pre-application Proposal of Application (PAN) process, public consultation event and planning agent for major planning application submission for retirement living development in Scone. - Edinburgh MI
Obtained planning permission and Listed Building Consent to redevelop Old Town Hall in Kinross for a sensitive residential development within the Conservation Area. - National House Builders
On behalf of major house builders, Mark has undertaken reviews of the housing land supply position in a number of areas across Scotland and prepared representations to various emerging development plans to identify sites that may be suitable for development. - Obtained planning permission for new restaurant and farm shop enterprise in rural Perthshire for private client.
- Led the planning application process for new wedding venue located within walled garden near Kincardine, granted planning permission by Fife Council.
