Helping Clients Navigate The Planning Process Through Better Collaboration
Welcome Rachel
We’re delighted to welcome Rachel Sandy to Calibro as Associate Director within our Transport Planning team. Rachel joins us with almost 20 years’ experience spanning transport strategy, planning policy and development management, including more than 15 years working at the interface between highways development management and spatial planning.
As both a qualified transport planner and town planner, she brings a rare combination of technical expertise, policy understanding and insight into the wider planning process. Based in our Bristol office and working alongside Rich Woods, Rachels appointment further strengthens our growing Transport Planning team and our ability to support clients from concept through to delivery.
Planning From Both Sides
Having spent much of her career working on behalf of local authorities and public-sector organisations, including senior roles at Jacobs and National Highways, Rachel has developed a deep understanding of the challenges facing planning officers, highway authorities, elected members and stakeholders.
Her experience helps clients better understand the priorities and pressures facing decision-makers, creating opportunities for more meaningful collaboration from the outset. Rachel believes successful planning is built on early engagement, open dialogue and a shared understanding of what projects need to achieve, rather than a traditional “consult and respond” approach. This perspective aligns closely with Calibro’s vision-led approach to transport planning, combining robust evidence with a clear narrative that supports place-making, growth and community outcomes.
Why Calibro?
Why Calibro?For Rachel, joining Calibro represented an opportunity to apply her public-sector experience much earlier in the development lifecycle. “Too often, transport assessments become disconnected from the wider vision for the place. Calibro’s approach is different. It puts people, place and community outcomes at the heart of transport strategy, creating a clear link between development vision and evidence needed to support it.”
Rich Woods, Head of Transport Planning said: “Rachel brings an exceptional blend of transport planning, planning policy and development management experience. Her understanding of how decisions are made, combined with her collaborative approach and strategic thinking, will add real value for our clients, projects and the team.”
Strengthening Our Team
Alongside project delivery, Rachel will play an important role in supporting the continued growth and development of our Transport Planning team, helping colleagues develop technical skills while sharing insights into the wider planning process and how transport evidence fits within broader strategic objectives. Her experience also spans planning appeals, examinations and public inquiry work, including acting as expert witness and representing highway authorities throughout the appeals process, adding further depth to our capability.
As we continue to grow, Rachel’s experience will help strengthen our collaborative, vision-led approach to transport planning while supporting the development of our people, projects and service offering.