Mike Jones, Partner, Planning

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 Growth Corridor 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 a member of the Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Development Board, and Interact Hertfordshire.

Mike is MTRPI accredited.

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.

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.

Throughout this challenging project, Bidwells provided a first-class, professional service which guided the application to a successful conclusion

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

Awards:

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

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

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

Blog 19.05.25

UKREiiF 2025 brought together a panel of leading voices to ask a pivotal question: Are the latest planning reforms truly delivering progress, or simply adding new layers to an already complex system?

Navigating Planning Reforms: Is This the Path to Progress?

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

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.

Insights 02.02.22

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

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

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

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