Mike is a Chartered Town Planner with 19+ years’ experience and knowledge across an array of sectors.

Based centrally out of Milton Keynes, he is a partner in the planning team, dealing with development projects across the Oxford to Cambridge Arc including Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire.

Mike specialises in resolving planning issues and negotiating with stakeholders to implement planning strategies and deliver sustainable development.

His background is principally within development management in the residential, education and energy sectors, including strategic planning and mixed-use development schemes. This has enabled him to be adept in the strategic promotion of land of various scales and uses through local and neighbourhood plans, as well as complex planning applications.

He prides himself on the variety of his work, from energy infrastructure, mixed-use urban regeneration projects, residential care, education and construction, including expert witness work at appeals and Local Plan examinations.

Mike is MTRPI accredited.

Mike Jones - speaking slot.jpg
Mike was a panelist at Benchmark Architects' Collaborate event on 4th May, discussing the New Milton Keynes City Plan and the significance of schemes like Park Square.
I don't ever have to 'think' when I'm working with Bidwells - they are always proactive and two steps ahead of us. I can't fault them.
Megan Kennedy - Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd
Mike has provided consistent, robust and proactive planning advice on our strategic land assets for a number of years, through both planning applications and Local Plan promotion.
Struan Power - Strategic Land Manager at Taylor Wimpey
Throughout this challenging project, Bidwells provided a first-class, professional service which guided the application to a successful conclusion
Michael Margereson - Jarvis Homes
Over the past five years, Bidwells has provided intellectually rigorous advice on our project that has been central to its successful allocation for 2,000 homes
Nigel Street - Axiom Developments

Awards:

  • RTPI South East Planning Excellence Award 2020 for Campbell Wharf
  • RTPI East of England Planning Excellence Highly Commended Scheme 2021 for Pixbrook Academy

Experience

01

Planning

Develop winning planning strategies that deliver successful projects
02

Planning Consultancy

Comprehensive planning strategy and submission advice - tailored to your site and your objectives.

Our insights

Image of shutterstock_1148443280 Insights 15.07.24

Back in February 2023 I wrote about the importance of the newly enacted ‘National Policy Statements’ (NPS) for energy, while bemoaning the lack of joined up thinking following the December 2023 revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

A New Dawn for Renewables

Read more
Image of Solar farm cropped Insights 12.02.24

Bidwells’ Planner Mike Jones, shares his thoughts on updated National Planning Policy and what this means for development and decision making.

‘Critical National Priority’ for Energy Infrastructure

Read more
Image of Shutterstock - school Insights 27.01.23

Following a busy year working on multiple school planning projects across the East of England, Planning Partner Mike Jones answers questions on the role of education in the ever-moving playing field of planning policy and his wider experience of education in the planning process.

The playing field of planning policy, Q&A on Education with Mike Jones.

Read more
Image of shutterstock_2051580290 Insights 01.02.22

The political football that is the Green Belt is letting emotion rule logic when it comes to future growth in Hertfordshire.

Herts over Mind – Delays and Abandonment

Read more
Local Plan Watch Autumn 2020 Bedfordshire Briefing 23.09.20

Bedfordshire is an area of opportunity and a focus for growth given its location at the centre of the Oxford-MK-Cambridge Arc. The combination of East-West Rail infrastructure with the provision of new train stations and road infrastructure provides the platform for significant employment and housing led growth.

Bedfordshire Local Plan Watch - Autumn 2020

Read more
Local Plan Watch Autumn 2020 Bucks Briefing 23.09.20

It continues to be a mixed bag across Buckinghamshire with the Local Plans of Aylesbury and Chiltern/South Bucks stalled at examination but progress looking to be made on the review of Plan:MK in Milton Keynes with the ongoing preparation of the Mk Futures 2050 Growth Strategy. Moving forward, the proposed revisions to the standard methodology suggest a significant increase in housing need for the upcoming strategic plan for Buckinghamshire to address.

Buckinghamshire Local Plan Watch - Autumn 2020

Read more
Local Plan Watch Spring 2020 Beds Briefing 16.04.20

Our Planning team constantly monitor the activities of local planning authorities to identify opportunities for clients. Our spring update provides an insight to latest local plans coming forward across the region.

Leic, Beds and Northants Local Plan Watch - Spring 2020

Read more
Local Plan Watch Spring 2020 Bucks Briefing 16.04.20

Our Planning team constantly monitor the activities of local planning authorities in Buckinghamshire to identify opportunities for clients. March's update provides an insight to latest local plans coming forward across the region.

Buckinghamshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2020

Read more
CSP
Project

New SEN School, Kempston

Over the past four years, Bedford Borough has seen an increase of 18% in the number attending SEN schools with the current number standing at approximately 370 pupils. Existing schools reached capacity in December 2019, with over 100 SEN pupils educated outside of the borough in January 2021.

Wates pic 3
Project

UKPN- Biggleswade Substation

UK Power Networks and National Grid were approached by Central Beds Council to develop a project that would enable the provision of an additional 80MVA of electricity.

Image of UKPN (2)
Project

Bedfordshire Police HQ building

Bedfordshire Police’s existing HQ was not fit for purpose and the force had a need for a new HQ building to ensure the safety and security of the force’s officers and detainees.

Image of Bedfordshire Police HQ 2
Project

Pix Brook Academy

We were instructed to provide strategic planning services on this exciting new academy for the village of Stotfold.

Pix Brook Academy 1
Project

New Care Home, Harpenden

Our client was seeking to alter an existing property for occupation by the tenant of an adjacent property, thus freeing up their site to create a purpose-built care home.  Working with key stakeholders, we submitted a case to demolish and redevelop an industrial building and, in its place, create a 63-bed care home.

Jarvis and Porthaven - care home, Harpenden 2.GIF
Project

Arlesey East Sustainable Urban Extension

A comprehensive local plan allocation that will provide much-needed housing, a country park, relief road, community facilities along with blue and green infrastructure.

Arlesey East image 2
Project

MK Gateway

Mixed-use development evangelists Socius really get the knowledge economy. They know that cities like Cambridge, Oxford and Milton Keynes are powered by the collaboration of the people living and working there and their shared quest for knowledge and discovery.

MK Gateway CGI FINAL

Contact Mike Jones

Thank you for your message, we'll be in touch soon.

By submitting this form you agree to the terms of ourĀ Privacy Policy.

By submitting this form you agree to the terms of ourĀ Privacy Policy.

An error has occurred while getting captcha image

Meet other members of Mike Jones' team:

Meet our experts

Search Bidwells