The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)’s chief executive Fiona Howie is to step down in the Spring after seven years in the role.

The charity, which carries out research and campaigning to support the planning sector in the UK, is now on the hunt for a replacement.

Chair Andrew Pritchard said Howie “has been a key advocate for the visionary role of planning and placemaking, while also working tirelessly to make sure the organisation can look forward to a sustainable future”.

He added: “The board of trustees is incredibly grateful for her strong but also calm leadership, not least through the pandemic, and she will leave the Association in a very strong position. She will be very much missed.

“On a personal level, it’s been a delight to work with Fiona during my time as chair of the Association, and I am hugely appreciative of all the hard work she has put in.”

Howie said: “My main priority in the coming months is to continue to drive the organisation’s work programmes forward, while also supporting the Board to secure a fantastic new chief executive.

“It’s an exciting time for someone to shape the Association’s next chapter because creating healthy, sustainable and resilient places that are fair for everyone is as important and relevant today, as it was when the organisation was created more than 125 years ago.”

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