Meet the National Park planner…Claire Tester
August 16, 2023
We catch up with Claire Tester, Planning Policy Manager at the National Park.
Three words that sum up your job in planning?
Diverse, challenging, satisfying.
Okay, so what’s your role at the National Park?
My main role at the National Park is to lead the Planning Policy team that prepares and monitors our Local Plans and supporting documents. It means that I get to steer how we plan for development in the Park over the next two decades, making sure that new homes, workplaces and other necessary development meets the needs of our communities and visitors whilst also conserving and enhancing the Park’s qualities as a nationally important landscape.
What appealed to you about working in planning?
During the mid-1980s my local community in Streat, near Plumpton was gathering evidence about the impacts of infilling a sand quarry with waste for a public inquiry. I got involved and in the process got hooked on planning!
Nearly 40 years later part of my remit is now minerals and waste planning in the National Park which includes Streat Sandpit (now infilled and fully restored) so it feels like I have gone full circle. During that time I have worked in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey and Kent for County, District and Parish Councils, an AONB Partnership and now a National Park Authority. I have dealt with planning applications and prepared local and neighbourhood plans for every type of development you can think of – homes, workplaces, telecom masts, incinerators (yes including the one at Newhaven!), equestrian facilities, tourism accommodation and so on.
The beauty of working in planning is its diversity. It never gets boring because you are always learning new things.
Can you describe your typical day?
Because planning is so diverse there is no such thing as a typical day. Since I started this role at the beginning of March my days have included getting to grips with our procurement rules so we can commission evidence base studies for the Local Plan Review; assessing potential development sites for that Review; recruiting new staff (and saying goodbye to old ones!); dealing with planning applications (left over from my previous role at Lewes); talking to Parish Councils about preparing ‘parish priorities statements’ (the new alternative to neighbourhood plans); and working with colleagues from other local planning authorities to address shared issues such as water and nutrient neutrality.
Best thing about working in planning for a National Park?
I previously worked for the High Weald AONB Partnership, which covers a similar sized area and has many of the same issues as the South Downs, but a staff team of only 7 FTE. I was the only planner in the team, so one of the things I really enjoy about working for the South Downs NPA is being back in a team of planners that I can share planning experiences and knowledge with.
What do you love about the South Downs National Park?
What isn’t to love? I don’t feel truly at home until I see those ‘blunt, bow-headed, whale backed downs’ in front of me. They have literally been the backdrop to my life so I find it hard to objectively analyse what is special about them. I just know that whenever I feel bad and worn down by life, walking on top of the South Downs surrounded by skylarks, wildflowers and the Weald stretched out in front of me can always bring me back to my happy place.
Currently reading/watching?
I’m a bit of a landscape history geek and I am currently reading ‘Making One’s Way In The World’ by Martin Bell which explores how people have experienced landscapes over the centuries on ancient routeways.
Dream holiday destination and why?
A small, remote Scottish island, on my own. As an introvert I use up most of my social capacity at work, so on holiday I like being on my own in a beautiful landscape so I can recharge the batteries. When I do need company one of the benefits of working in protected landscapes is having contacts to visit in every holiday destination in the UK!