Sep 28 2026
PROPERTY developers Sladen Estates has appointed a new associate director of planning to support its development projects across the UK.
Sophie Drury has worked with the Sladen Estates team for many years and brings several decades of experience as a chartered town planner. Having worked with both local authorities and technical consultants to support a wide range of developments, she brings considerable expertise to the team.
Sophie said: "Having built a strong relationship with Sladen Estates as a consultant, it’s great to finally join the business as a permanent part of the team. My time spent working both within local authorities and for private firms has given me a deep understanding of the planning process, and I look forward to putting that to work on our busy development schedule."
Sophie spent more than six years as associate director at CarneySweeney, managing planning applications across various sectors and delivering specialist retail, economic, and health assessments. During this time, she worked with major clients including Lidl, Peveril Securities, and Birmingham City Football Club.
Before this, Sophie worked as principal planner at Signet Planning and WYG/Tetra Tech, following a role at Walsall Council as senior regeneration officer. Through drafting local planning policies and preparing evidence for planning appeals, she has developed in-depth knowledge of planning policy.
Chief Executive Nick Sladen said: “We are very pleased that Sophie has decided to join our team. Sophie has worked on most of our projects over the last 12 years and now having her in-house and dedicated to our projects means that our already comprehensive approach to development will be further enhanced.”
Sladen Estates is a commercial property development company specialising in industrial, office, retail, and student accommodation. In partnership with Peveril Securities, its development portfolio has grown, with projects advancing in Bicester, Hampton, Reading, and Nottinghamshire