Fenella is the CLA’s Head of Planning based in London. Her role is two-fold:

Firstly to provide advice to CLA members about matters related to development management and planning policy, and secondly  research, develop and promote CLA policy across planning issues as it affects rural areas, and designated areas too.

She is responsible for developing and maintaining good working relationships with relevant Government officials, evaluating and responding to national consultations relating to the Planning system, and designated areas.  as well as providing advice to CLA members.

Fenella’s particular policy challenge is to devise better ways of achieving more rational and flexible planning policies for rural areas to provide for the needs of rural businesses, rural communities and the natural environment.

She is a founding member of the Rural Coalition. She was a member of the Prince of Wales’ Affordable Rural Housing Initiative, also Fenella was a founding member of the Homes and Communities Agency Rural Housing Advisory Group. .

Before joining the CLA, she held a position as a Land Agent at Faulkner Chartered Surveyors in Hertfordshire. Prior to this, Fenella worked for IBM for 10 years.