About us
Planning, place and development expertise
A team-based consultancy grounded in clear advice, practical strategy and thoughtful engagement. Based in Northern Ireland, working across Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.
Founder
Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
Dr Justin McHenry
Founder · Planner · Member of the RTPI
Justin is a planner with a diversified background across major transport infrastructure, development, renewable energy and smart-city projects in Ireland and the UK, with experience gained at GIA Surveyors, VU.CITY and AECOM.
A doctorate in planning sits behind the practice’s emphasis on evidence. Justin’s PhD at Queen’s University Belfast — an ESRC collaborative studentship with QUB Planning and VU.CITY — examined how improved processes, technology, communication and collaboration can make planning more inclusive, accessible and effective. Earlier work included leading a Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Queen’s University Belfast and VU.CITY on digital, 3D, city-scale modelling and strategic spatial planning, which was graded ‘outstanding’ in every Innovate UK assessment category and led to a national Future Leader award.
That research has been applied in practice as well as published: academic papers including a co-authored article in International Planning Studies, teaching and curriculum work, training masterclasses, and contributions to the UK’s Digital Planning Taskforce research roundtables and MHCLG digital planning forums.
Alongside consultancy, Justin serves on the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Northern Ireland Executive Committee, having previously chaired the RTPI NI Young Planners Committee.
- Doctorate
- PhD in Planning, Queen’s University Belfast. Thesis: Digitalising and Democratising the Planning System — ComTech, Citizens and Planners.
- Degrees
- First-class BSc in Environmental Planning and MSc in Planning and Development, with Distinction, both from Queen’s University Belfast. Six awards for highest-performing student across those degrees.
- Professional
- Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Member of the RTPI Northern Ireland Executive Committee and former Chair of the RTPI NI Young Planners Committee.
- Recognition
- National Future Leader Award from KTN and Innovate UK, for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership graded ‘outstanding’ in every Innovate UK assessment category.
- Also
- Professional Diploma in UX Design, UX Design Institute. AgileBA Practitioner. Member of the Association for Geographic Information.
Who we are
Expertise brought together
We work collaboratively with clients and project teams from the earliest stages of a project through to delivery.
Our practice brings together expertise in
- Planning strategy
- Development management
- Policy and strategic land
- Public consultation
- Strategic communications
- GIS and geospatial analysis
- Digital planning
- Research
- Training
- Development coordination
Our approach
Five commitments
Clear
We explain planning issues in straightforward language and distinguish clearly between risk, opportunity and uncertainty.
Commercial
Our advice takes account of programme, delivery, cost and the client’s wider objectives.
Collaborative
We work closely with landowners, developers, communities, consultants and decision-makers.
Evidence-led
Our recommendations are grounded in policy, research, site context and professional judgement.
Proportionate
We tailor the scope of work to the decision that needs to be made.
Access to wider expertise
The right specialist team for each project
Our associate model allows us to bring together the right specialist team for each project. Clients retain visibility and control over appointments while benefiting from coordinated planning leadership.
This can include access to
- Architects
- Urban designers
- Transport consultants
- Environmental specialists
- Engineers
- Economists
- Renewable-energy consultants
- Communications specialists
- Project managers
- Contractors
- Installers
- Other delivery professionals
Research and academic expertise
Work informed by research
Our work is informed by academic research, professional practice and direct experience of planning innovation. We undertake research for clients, universities, professional organisations and public bodies.
Our expertise includes research into
- Digital planning
- Public participation
- Planning technology
- Community engagement
- Planning reform
- Spatial data
- Service design
- Professional practice
Outputs can include
- Research reports
- Policy papers
- Academic publications
- Professional articles
- Presentations
- Workshops
- Evidence reviews
- Implementation strategies
Training and masterclasses
Tailored training for planning, property and public-sector teams
Training can be delivered in person, online or as part of a wider programme.
- Understanding the planning system
- Planning applications
- Pre-application strategy
- Local development plans
- Site appraisal
- Development due diligence
- Site sourcing
- Public consultation
- Strategic communications
- Digital planning
- GIS for planning
- Planning data
- Renewable-energy planning
- Portfolio risk and opportunity
- Multidisciplinary coordination
- Planning innovation
Who we work with
Clients and collaborators
- Landowners
- Developers
- Investors
- Businesses
- Institutions
- Architects
- Surveyors
- Design teams
- Property professionals
- Public bodies
- Universities
- Technology providers
- Community organisations
- Third-sector organisations
Where we work
Five jurisdictions
- Northern Ireland
- Ireland
- Scotland
- England
- Wales
Planning systems and policy contexts differ across these jurisdictions. We tailor our advice to the relevant legal, policy and local context and work with appropriate local and specialist partners where required.
Let’s talk
Considering an acquisition, promoting land or preparing an application?
Whether you are responding to policy, planning public consultation or assessing a property portfolio, we would be pleased to discuss how our team can help.
- Email to be confirmed
- Telephone
- Telephone to be confirmed
- Location
- Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
- LinkedIn to be confirmed