Balancing planning applications, stakeholder engagement, and family life is no small feat, but somehow, Ashleigh Genco, senior strategic planning manager at Story Homes, manages to fit it all in – along with the occasional Italian lunch and a house move! Here’s a snapshot of Ashleigh’s week, from planning policy updates to bedtime routines.
Monday – kicking off the week with MPs and major developments
The week starts with a strong coffee and a packed agenda. First up, I’m coordinating engagement with MPs to ensure a collaborative approach to a major mixed-use planning application we’re working on. This isn’t just any application – it’s one that could see the delivery of around 2,300 new homes alongside infrastructure that supports the UK government’s plans for the National Cyber Force. The clustering of uses in this way represents a real opportunity to maximise the economic benefit of a significant government defence investment in the area. Defence infrastructure, skilled jobs, high-quality homes and supporting community infrastructure are all crucial for national growth and stability and this project combines the lot. It’s a very exciting project to be part of.
Later, I meet with planning officers to refine proposals for another strategic site in the North West. Collaboration is key in this role; there’s no room for ‘us versus them’. After all, we’re all working towards the same goal – delivering well-planned, sustainable communities.
The evening is spent in full parent mode: bath time, bedtime stories, and then my “second job” kicks in. We’re moving house at the moment, which means an endless cycle of packing, decluttering, and wondering why we own so many Tupperware lids without matching boxes.
Tuesday – parish councils and property leaders
I start the morning with a meeting at a local parish council to discuss their draft neighbourhood plan with regards to a site we’re promoting. Parish councils can be some of the most engaged stakeholders in the planning process – often with strong views on housing delivery and local infrastructure. The key is listening and finding common ground.
Midday takes me to a North West Property Leaders’ lunch. The theme? ‘Shaping Housing’ – an industry-wide discussion on how to accelerate new home delivery in the UK. Between discussions on revised planning policies and development challenges, I squeeze in some valuable networking with other housebuilders and local authorities.
After the event, I head home to do the nursery pickup. My little boy greets me with the kind of enthusiasm I can only dream of receiving in a stakeholder meeting! The rest of the evening is dedicated to family time – until, of course, more moving-related tasks creep in.
Wednesday – Newcastle office, Italian food, and site visits
I’m primarily based at our Chorley office but today, I’m working from our Newcastle office, catching up with team members who manage our North East sites. It’s always great to get face-to-face time with colleagues.
Lunch is a highlight: I grab something from a local Italian deli on the riverside. With Italian in-laws, I’m starting to learn how to spot authentic Italian food, and today’s meal does not disappoint. If only every lunchtime included a view of the river and focaccia!
The afternoon is spent on-site, assessing whether one of our North East strategic land parcels can be brought forward in line with the latest changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Seeing a site in person always gives a new perspective – you can only get so much from maps and reports.
Thursday – working from home & industry networking
With back-to-back site visits and meetings earlier in the week, today is a chance to ‘get my head down’, work from home and focus on reviewing the latest government guidance on planning policies. The latest updates on Green Belt, flood risk and Local Plan making are critical in shaping our promotion and planning application strategies for the Story Homes strategic land portfolio.
Later, I attend a Home Builders Federation event, catching up with industry peers, including the head of planning from a local council. Networking is really useful for staying ahead of emerging trends, understanding policy shifts, and sometimes, sharing a few industry frustrations and potential solutions over coffee.
The evening follows the usual bedtime routine with my son followed by a quick yoga class which is great for switching off after an information-heavy day.
Friday – wrapping up early and quality family time
Friday is my half-day, which is a game-changer when it comes to work-life balance. But first, I have a couple of meetings to attend. First up is internal – a major project meeting with the team to discuss the progress of our current planning applications. It’s good to end the week on a productive note, knowing that we’re moving forward with key developments. Secondly, it’s a developer consortium meeting where, alongside other housebuilders, we review a Draft Local Plan that is currently out for consultation to assess whether it allocates sufficient land for housing.
By lunchtime, I’m officially off-duty and heading to meet family for lunch. The afternoon is all about quality time – taking my little boy to the park and catching up with friends. After a full-on week, it’s nice to step away from planning applications and just enjoy the simpler things in life – a takeaway and glass of wine has my name on it this evening.
This week, like most, has been a balancing act – juggling planning policy updates, stakeholder meetings, site visits, and family life. But that’s what makes this job exciting: no two days are the same, and there’s always a new challenge (or moving box) waiting for me.
Now, if only someone could help me find the missing lids to all those Tupperware containers…
