Black & Veatch recently announced that Anne Dugdale, a chartered town planner, has joined the company to provide its clients with expanded services in utility infrastructure projects.
Dugdale will advise Black & Veatch’s clients on planning issues and help manage their planning applications, as well as assisting with planning matters on projects in progress. Dugdale previously was with a major UK specialist infrastructure planning consultancy, where she worked with clients from the water, ports and energy sectors. As a result, she brings to Black & Veatch an understanding of the planning needs of numerous clients in the infrastructure sector.
“The need to successfully manage planning issues has grown, and will continue to do so,” said Peter Martin, Black & Veatch’s director of technical services. “The planning permission stage is increasingly complex, but its success is vital to the overall outcome of most utility infrastructure projects. Dugdale is experienced in working with those who assess planning applications, and she understands what they look for in a successful application.”
The addition of planning expertise extends further the range of integrated services Black & Veatch is able to offer. As well as providing clients with a new service, this extension will also enhance business’ project execution capabilities.
According to Ian Kirkaldy, Black & Veatch’s sales director Europe–Water, “Planning consultants are often appointed in advance of engineering consultants. Being involved much earlier in the life of a project will allow us to see challenges well in advance and prevent them from becoming problems. Dugdale’s appointment enables both Black & Veatch and our clients to better manage planning-related risk.”
Source: Black & Veatch
