New planning manager for major South West housebuilder

Persimmon Homes’ south west business has hired a new planning manager as the company looks to expand its presence in the region.

Andy West has rejoined the business, where he worked as a planner from 2015-2018, after five years with a small Cornish developer, Verto, that specialised in constructing Zero Carbon Smart Homes, followed by a stint at Crest Nicholson.

Before his first stint with Persimmon, Andy began his career as a planning enforcement officer for local planning authorities, including Dartmoor National Park, after graduating from university with a degree in geography and a master’s in planning. After getting married and having his first child, he joined the accredited five-star housebuilder.

Andy will be preparing planning applications and implementing planning conditions during construction for various sites where Persimmon is seeking to deliver much-needed housing and infrastructure in the South West, including current developments in Cranbrook and Taunton.

The Devon-based planner also played a significant role in award-winning schemes with his last employer, helping them secure planning permission for the world’s first Zero-Carbon Student Village for Exeter and Falmouth University's Penryn Campus.

Persimmon Homes South West has high-quality homes for sale on sites in Cullompton, Cranbrook, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Taunton, and Yeovil. 

Commenting on his appointment, Andy West said:

“After a few years away, I am delighted to be back with Persimmon in a role where I can help deliver much-needed homes across the region.

“I enjoy the challenge of working for a developer with high-standards and having the opportunity to shape the way in which our housing developments are delivered.

“The delivery of good quality housing to address the acute housing shortage is a hugely important task and one that I am proud to play a part in.”

Daniel Heathcote, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes South West, added:

“The South West business is an exciting phase where we are actively and strategically expanding our operations to deliver more housing in the region, and adding a planning manager with Andy’s expertise to our team is a huge boost for us.

“Andy’s got some great planning experience in the South West and he is a great asset to have on board as we seek to expedite our applications and ensure a steady pipeline of new housing in a region with a desperate need for new, high-quality homes.”