Climbing the career ladder: Josie Turner

Senior development planning officer Josie Turner talks about the work Birmingham City Council is doing to help transform the city centre and why she got into planning.

Why have you chosen planning as a career?

To work with communities to improve the places we live.

What was your first role in planning?

Graduate planner, GVA Grimley. Working on development projects for various clients gave me an insight into the planning system from a private sector perspective.

What does your current role involve?

Working to bring about transformation in the centre of Birmingham by delivering a range of local planning services and area initiative work. This is a varied role that involves development and regeneration schemes, and working with stakeholders that include residents, other professionals and partner organisations.

What projects are you working on now?

A key project is Birmingham Smithfield – the redevelopment of 14 hectares of city centre land which is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a new destination that includes retail markets, a family leisure quarter and residential neighbourhoods. Birmingham Smithfield will deliver over 100,000 square metres of floor space, 1,000 new homes and 3,000 new jobs.

How do you see your career developing?

It’s an exciting time for Birmingham. We’re experiencing unprecedented levels of investment in infrastructure and major new development schemes are coming to fruition.

There are opportunities to get involved in HS2’s arrival in the city, the continuing success of the City Centre Enterprise Zone and the delivery of 51,000 new homes, 100,000 jobs and supporting infrastructure by 2031. Being part of this exciting future is a fantastic opportunity, professionally and personally.