After a successful campaign to attract new Planning Inspectors, the Planning Inspectorate has announced that over 40 new Inspectors will soon be starting work, ensuring the Inspectorate is well-equipped to deliver a high-quality service in 2006.

The first group of new Inspectors started on Monday 6 February 2006 . Between them, they have a wide range of professional expertise, including planners, lawyers, surveyors and engineers, with experience in local and central government and the private sector. There will be further intakes in May, June and November.

Katrine Sporle, Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, welcomed the new Inspectors, saying:

"We had an excellent response to our campaign for new Planning Inspectors and I warmly welcome the new members of the team. I am confident that the variety and depth of their expertise will be an asset to the Inspectorate as we take on the challenges of the New Year, including the new system for spatial plans and the continued rise in planning appeals.

"I am confident that those joining us can look forward to an interesting and challenging career, helping us to fulfil our mission of using our expertise in planning and land use to help shape well planned environments.”

To maintain and enhance the high standards of the service it provides, the Inspectorate is intending to undertake regular campaigns for more Inspectors to join its workforce, as well as for specialist advisers to deal with specialist casework, such as pollution control and other environmental issues.

Background Note

The Planning Inspectorate is an Executive Agency in the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the National Assembly for Wales . It serves the DCLG and the Welsh Assembly Government by dealing with Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) and other casework under planning, housing, environment and allied legislation. It also carries out similar work for other government departments, particularly the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on Access, Rights of Way and Environmental appeals and the Department for Transport (DfT) on Highway Orders and other related work.

It employs just over 800 staff of whom 314 are Inspectors. In addition it engages the services of a further 212 fee-paid Consultant Inspectors. It has offices in Temple Quay, Bristol and Cathays Park, Cardiff.