Reading: Nexus recruits two new planners

Published by

Jo Whittle

Award-winning planning consultancy, Nexus Planning, has recruited two planners to join its growing Reading office. Both have moved from national planning consultancies; Mykena Mortimer-Davies joins from Pegasus Group in Bracknell, and Peter Davis joins from Turley in Reading.

Mykena Mortimer-Davies

Mortimer-Davies was born in Neath, Wales, and grew up in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Dubai). She moved back to the UK for university, graduating from Aberystwyth University with a BSc in Geography in 2016. She completed an MSc in International Planning and Development at Cardiff University in 2018. Mortimer-Davies moved to Reading in 2019 where she worked on a number of residential and commercial planning applications and appeals for national multidisciplinary consultancy, Pegasus Group.

Mortimer-Davies says: “I am very excited to have the opportunity to develop my career with Nexus Planning. It has a fantastic reputation both locally and nationally. Despite working remotely at the moment, the Reading team has gone above and beyond to make me feel part of the team. I’m particularly looking forward to working on the larger strategic sites which Nexus Reading is highly regarded for.”

Peter Davis

Davis grew up in Reading and graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with BSc (Hons) in Geography in 2016. He graduated from the University of Reading with an MSc in Spatial Planning and Development in 2018. He has experience in private planning consultancy, advising on a wide range of residential, commercial and mixed-use developments in the South East region, previously working for planning and development consultancy, Turley. Davis has worked on securing the regeneration of a number of major employment hubs – including the Winnersh Triangle Business Park – as well as the extensive experience in promoting and managing greenfield residential developments.

Davis says: “I am delighted to be joining such a dynamic and supportive team and working on the delivery of some really interesting projects in the region. I’m looking forward to securing my APC and achieving my RTPI accreditation with Nexus to further support them as they continue to work on a diverse range of projects.”

Nexus Reading recently secured a resolution to grant planning permission for one of its strategic residential sites where Nexus acted as both lead consultant and Environmental Impact Assessment co-ordinator. The scheme in Daventry will provide 1,100 new homes, including 275 affordable homes, as well as a new primary school, a high-quality local centre with shops, community hall and pre-school facilities, major new public open space, and enhanced footway and cycle links to the town centre. Nexus promoted the site through the Local Plan process and undertook a number of community engagement exercises over the past two years.

Adam Ross, executive director and Reading lead, says: “It is an exciting time for us at Nexus, both nationally and specifically for Nexus in Reading, as we start a much-needed – and hopefully more optimistic – new year. We’re thrilled to have Mykena and Peter join the team, with each bringing their own experience and enthusiasm for the planning industry and the Thames Valley more generally. Whilst the first quarter of 2021 will be challenging for all due to the ongoing impacts of Covid-19, I am excited about the significant and diverse portfolio of work being carried out in our Reading office.”

Nexus Planning is an award-winning, independent planning consultancy operated and managed by Chartered Town Planners with offices in Reading, London and Manchester. Its highly skilled team of planning consultants provides market-leading planning, regeneration and development advice to both the private and public sectors. Nexus was established in 2013 and won RTPI Planning Consultancy of the Year 2020 earlier this year.

Jo Whittle