Director, Head of Residential
paul.nellist@asteerplanning.com

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Paul graduated from the University of Sheffield with a Masters in Town and Regional Planning in 2011 and has spent his career in private consultancy practices, starting in the Midlands before becoming chartered in 2013 and moving to Manchester in 2014. Following a 3 year spell at Lichfields, Paul moved to Avison Young (formerly GVA and HOW Planning) and has continued to establish himself as an expert residential planning advisor for a range of clients, with a focus on small, medium and volume housebuilders.

Associate Director
duncan.wenham@asteerplanning.com

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Duncan is a residential-focused planner with strong experience advising clients across the north of England on strategic and immediate opportunities. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MSc in Urban Regeneration and Development in 2016, having graduated in 2015 with a first-class BSc (Hons) degree in Geography. Duncan commenced his career in Town Planning at Knights Plc whilst completing his education and then spent seven years working at Savills where he focused on residential projects to delivery consents for national and SMA housebuilders in addition to promoting land for residential and employment uses. Duncan joined Asteer in mid 2024 where he continues to advise a wide range of clients to secure schemes across England. Duncan was elected as a Chartered Member of the RTPI in early 2019.

Senior Planner
francesca.opokugyamfi@asteerplanning.com

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Francesca has over three years' experience delivering market-leading planning advice on a national scale. She specialises in commercial and mixed-use urban regeneration projects having worked with a diverse range of clients including institutional funds, private equity, developer, and commercial occupier clients.

Francesca began her career at Savills after graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Urban Planning and Development. While at Savills, she also completed a Master’s degree (MSc) in Urban Planning at Sheffield Hallam University. Her experience spans a broad range of planning applications, including advising clients on sites with complex land constraints and ensuring the deliverability of development projects.

Senior Planner
will.hopcroft@asteerplanning.com

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Will graduated from the University of Manchester with a Masters in Planning and Real Estate in 2019, and spent two years in the New Business team at Trafford Housing Trust (L&Q), undertaking site appraisals and viability exercises for large-scale residential developments. He then spent four years in Development Management, assisting and leading in the determination and assessment of a wide range of major and minor planning applications, appeals, listed building consents and discharge of condition applications, achieving his MRTPI in November 2023. Joining in 2025, Will brings wealth of client-side and public sector experience to Asteer and is well-placed to provide uniquely tailored advice to a variety of clients.

Graduate Planner
adam.heapy@asterrplanning.com

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Adam graduated with a Master’s (Msc) in Global Urban Development and Planning from the University of Manchester in 2025.

Assistant Planner
james.prike@asteerplanning.com

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James graduated in Geography from the University of Sheffield in 2017. After gaining experience in a different field, he is now pursuing a career change and is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Planning at the University of Manchester.