Mark Cherrington is Managing Director at Cherrington Planning Ltd. Prior to his current role with the company, he ran a successful sheep farm and arable operation in Hampshire (for just over 18 years).  Mark then moved into the development sector, spending five years working on large-scale conceptual planning applications for entrepreneur Peter De Savary’s organisation, before going out on his own to set up Cherrington Planning Ltd. He has now worked in the planning & development sector for over 25 years and continues to conceptualize developments that emphasize environmental enhancement, focus on the local community, and reap the most financially beneficial options for landowners.

Mark has been involved in both large one-off residential dwellings as well as small to medium mixed residential schemes, helping clients unlock the asset value of their land whilst retaining its inherent character and form.

This re-envisioning of how to plan and develop sensitive rural and city landscape environs is the core focus of the Cherrington Planning business. They are well placed to claim and own this space in the market as they have unrivalled experience and track record.

In his spare time Mark enjoys working on his garden with his wife B, and is a talented chef and baker when he finds the time.    

Giles is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years’ experience in the commercial property market. He qualified whilst working at King Sturge (now part of JLL) in London, then subsequently worked on the client-side for a further three London-based property investment and development companies, he maintains an involvement in the commercial market in London.

As part of his remit was running teams of planning and design professionals on major brownfield commercial to residential redevelopments across the UK – and attracted by CPL’s concept of community-focused development – Giles has recently joined on a part-time basis to focus on detailed project planning and financing.

Gemma joined CPL in April 2023 with 5 years’ experience in private planning consultancy. Having attained her MSc in Planning & Urban Leadership with Distinction in November 2022 from the University of the West of England Gemma is now a Licentiate Member of the RTPI and is working towards becoming a Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) in early 2024.

Prior to working in the planning sector Gemma gained a degree (2:1) in Business Information Technology from the University of Central Lancashire and a MSc in Risk Management from the University of Southampton. Gemma then embarked in a successful 10-year long career in the Financial Services sector working for the Cheltenham & Gloucester and ING Direct in their Business Continuity and Risk Management departments.  

Following a career break to have her children Gemma fell into Planning and embarked fully into a change of career. Gemma’s first MSc in Risk Management and career in banking, where her roles were heavily based around policy, evidence and compliance were very much a natural segway into town planning and left her with a legacy of professionalism and integrity with a keen eye for detail all of which have enabled her to transfer into a successful planner. 

Gemma carries out the policy research and site assessments for potential development sites to inform the planning strategy ensuring that Cherrington Planning offer the best possible development options for each unique site that comes forward, often, thinking outside of the traditional Planning Strategy box, especially within more complex environments.

As a qualified planner, Gemma project manages all planning applications from inception to permission. Writing and co-ordinating all supporting documentation and ensuring lines of communication are opened with the Local Authority and other stakeholders, early in the process. This ensures that the process runs efficiently, and the client sees the best results based on each distinctive proposal.

In her spare time Gemma enjoys spending time with her family and friends, lifting weights in the gym, and walking her dog across Salisbury Plain.