Tessa O'Neill
Director, Head of Town Planning

Tessa is BDP's Head of Town Planning

Tessa brings specialist knowledge to complex planning processes. Her role is more vital than ever, with increased legislation, a stronger focus on sustainability and more detailed requirements for justifying schemes. She leads complex development projects at all stages, from the articulation of effective strategy at the outset to the preparation and negotiation of consents. She is a trusted and expert collaborator, and is design-led her thinking, working positively with architectural, engagement and client teams to secure successful planning outcomes and overcome a wide range of issues.

Her portfolio includes strategic planning advice on hospital estate strategies including Great Ormond Street Hospital and 3Ts in Brighton, Supplementary Planning advice for Local Authorities from specific sites to city wide strategies, and sensitive heritage projects including the Houses of Parliament R&R Programme and the Northern Estates Programme. She leads a team of planners working to secure planning consents, develop masterplans, policy frameworks, and design guides. She has also acted as Expert Planning Witness at inquiry and at Local Plan examinations.