Our Team

Gemma has a wide range of expertise in handling a variety of complex planning matters.  With 15 years’ experience in the planning profession, working in both Local Authority and as a planning consultant, her experience ranges from providing advice on the planning potential of land and buildings, managing a variety of applications through the planning system, involvement in planning appeals and hearings, and handling planning enforcement cases.  Gemma has an MA qualification in Town Planning.

Peter joined WBW 8 years ago and has a breadth of experience in agricultural and rural planning, utilities and compensation work and grant applications. Peter’s experience has enabled him to specialise in all agricultural planning matters but most specifically attaining permission for agricultural/rural workers dwellings. Dealing with a broad range of utilities companies, local councils and public organisations Peter is adept at negotiating positive outcomes to meet client requirements.

Peter graduated from Harper Adams University College in 2008 with a 2:1 in Agriculture and in 2016 with a Post Graduate Diploma in Rural Enterprise and Land Management.

Brought up on the family farm, Jeff trained under Ben Atkinson as a fully qualified auctioneer becoming a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 1989.  Jeff is able to advise on a whole range of residential, commercial and agricultural properties for sale, letting or acquisition purposes as well as providing valuations for leading banks, private clients, probate and independent expert witness.  Jeff also has experience in bringing a large number of development projects to the market in recent years working closely with the Planning Team at WBW providing a complete advice service.

Cathy is experienced in dealing with a wide range of planning matters after fourteen years in the planning profession.  Prior to joining WBW in 2021 Cathy was part of the Planning Team at the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and before that was Planning Enforcement Team Leader at Craven District Council.  Cathy is experienced in dealing with a wide range of complex planning matters, having handled planning enforcement cases and being involved in dealing with planning applications and appeals and hearings.  Her experience includes providing advice on residential, agricultural and tourism related issues.  Cathy has an MA qualification in Town Planning.

David’s career in Rural Practice Surveying began almost 25 years ago and returning to the industry in 2015 to work at WBW Surveyors completes the circle. During his career the main areas of work were Building Surveying and Project Management in the construction industry and included clients such as the Royal Bank of Scotland and The Home Office/HM Prison Service.

His career has enabled him to maintain a varied workload, and a variety of differing clients, which meant that the return to the rural environment was a natural one.

Chloe has been with the company since 2012, during which time she has gained Associate membership of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. She covers a variety of rural and property services including; Agricultural Tenancies, Basic Payment Scheme, Environmental Stewardship Schemes, Planning Applications including production of AutoCAD Drawings, Rural & Residential Sales & Lettings.

Having been with WBW since the company formed, John has a wide field of expertise. With a farming background John understands agriculture and is able to find solutions and negotiate outcomes.  Particular areas of expertise include valuation, sales and purchases, tenancy matters and business planning.

Simon has 40 years’ experience as a rural practice Chartered Surveyor, practicing in north-west Yorkshire and north-east Lancashire and for the majority of that time based in Skipton and the Craven District. His professional experience covers the whole range of advice to rural land owners and occupiers including valuation, estate management, land tenure and planning related matters.

His responsibilities at WBW include Valuations, both rural and residential, Estate Management, including work for land owning charitable trusts, and Land Tenure, including tenancy matters under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 and the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995.

Simon is also an active member of the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) and is a past President and current Education and Training Officer of the Lancashire Agricultural Valuers Association.

Karen has a strong grounding in agriculture, particularly dairy, beef and sheep farming, having graduated from Aberdeen University in 2004 with a degree in Land Economy Karen has worked with local surveying companies and livestock markets before joining the WBW team in 2010.  Alongside living and working on a large commercial dairy farm and breeding pedigree Beltex sheep, Karen works part-time covering a variety of aspects of work including, Basic Payments Scheme, planning for agricultural buildings and infrastructure, environmental stewardship schemes, capital grant schemes and common grazing rights, with a particular expertise in farm paperwork and holding numbers.

With over 30 years as a rural practice surveyor (exclusively in the North East since 1990), Nigel is a part time consultant with WBW. He enjoys working for the firm’s private clients by putting his extensive experience to use in a wide range of negotiations, particularly rural property sales & acquisitions, landlord and tenant matters and compensation claims.  He qualified in 1986 and is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Michael is a Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and a RICS Registered Valuer. Experienced in the property profession since 1983, Michael advises property owners, occupiers, investors and financial institutions in the residential and commercial sectors.  Michael’s expertise includes valuations for all purposes, surveys of both residential and commercial property, preparation and presentation of Expert Witness Reports and property management including lease renewals and rent reviews as well as block management.

Away from work Michael’s interests are predominantly sporting, enjoying trail running , golf and rugby, the latter being confined to spectating and administration these days.

With more than 20 years’ experience in Town and Country Planning, prior to joining WBW in 2016 Ian was the Development Control Manager in charge of Planning Applications and Enforcement at Craven District Council.  Having extensive experience of residential, tourism, and agricultural developments, Ian is able to provide thorough planning and development advice and support to clients and their agents.  Ian also has particular expertise navigating the legal complexities of the planning process, planning enforcement matters, and negotiating with planning authorities and other public bodies.  Ian is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a Chartered Town Planner.