Rachel Lea is an Associate Director in Newsteer’s Planning team, helping clients shape planning strategies, manage application processes and understand the practical steps needed to move residential and regeneration projects forward. Her work spans strategic site assessment, planning applications and project coordination for private and public sector clients.
Rachel’s experience includes securing planning permission for 278 Build to Rent homes behind the Grade II* listed Hoover Building in Ealing, supporting new homes in Luton and planning work for Tesco Express stores. She has also worked on major estate regeneration projects in London, including community-led co-design at the Upper and Lower Fosters Estate in Barnet.
Rachel brings a clear, collaborative approach to planning instructions, working with clients, communities, consultants and stakeholders to keep engagement, programme and development objectives aligned. She also sits on the NextGen committee of Real Estate Balance and on the board of Women in Planning, contributing to wider industry discussion, events and initiatives. Her focus is on making the consenting route easier to understand and helping teams maintain momentum through complex planning processes.
