Midlands

Chelgate has been providing political engagement and community consultation support to our clients for approaching 40 years. Over the past decade, we have worked on approaching 100 projects totalling over 50,000 dwellings. Our new Midlands region includes Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire.

A selection of projects we have worked on are included below and on our Strategic land and site promotion and housing pages.

The Midlands team is led by Clare Tevlin and Guy Orton, supported by Michael Hardware and Dan Sames. Clare is a district and city councillor, whereas Guy is a former council planning officer and planning consultant. Michael is a district and county cabinet member, a former planning portfolio holder, and Dan is also a former planning portfolio holder, and principal lecturer in planning at Oxford Brookes University.

The Midlands team will operate from our new office in Northampton. The town was chosen as Michael worked there when seconds to Wilcon Homes and the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation.

Some of the projects we have worked on in the region:

Northfield, South Oxfordshire

Chelgate supported Catesby (formerly L&Q Estates) and Brasenose College, Oxford University, progressing proposals for this development of around 2,000 new homes with a new primary school, local centre and open green spaces. Located on green belt on the edge of Oxford city, the development was not originally included in South Oxfordshire’s draft local plan despite its locational advantages and deliverability. Following Chelgate’s political and community engagement for the scheme the site was included. The partners, which includes Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council, have worked towards a master plan with a planning applications expected to be submitted to develop the site later in 2026. The promotion has included a successful stakeholder forum which has helped with finalising proposals and ensuring all parts of the community have been properly engaged.

Little Paxton, Huntingdonshire

This 440-home site next to the Great North Road is being promoted through the Huntingdonshire Local Plan. Engagement is at an early stage but the community will have an active role in formulating the proposals for this site via a local stakeholder forum and via the parish council.

Finedon, North Northamptonshire 

The client has acqured Chelgate is assisting with assisted WNDC in managing relationships across Northampton, Towcester and Daventry. Our role was to engage with partners, potential investors and developers. This

West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) 

Chelgate assisted WNDC in managing relationships across Northampton, Towcester and Daventry. Our role was to engage with partners, potential investors and developers. This included strategy development and crisis management, developers’ forums, newsletters and other briefings, councillor events, media launches, media relations (local, trade and national), corporate entertainment and public affairs. The assignment involved a secondment to the WNDC offices in Northampton.

To discuss a project in Midlands, please contact Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property, on 020 7939 7989 or email.