Liverpool City Council has strengthened its planning department by appointing Samantha Campbell as its Head of Planning.

As the first female officer in the role, Mrs Campbell has spent 19 years at the local authority, holding various posts in the Planning Department such as Principal Planning Officer, Deputy Team Leader of Urban Design and Heritage Team and City Centre Co-ordinator.

She has led on a number of major regeneration schemes from Kings Dock to Liverpool Football Club's stadium expansion to the development of the £2 billion Knowledge Quarter and overseeing the growth of the Baltic Triangle.

She has also played a key role in refreshing the strategy for Liverpool's World Heritage site, as well as liaising closely on projects such as the multi-billion Liverpool Waters scheme and a new major Cruise Terminal.

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As Head of Planning, Ms Campbell will also oversee the development of emerging growth zones in the city such as Ten Streets, the Fabric District, the new Beatles Quarter and the implementation of the Local Plan to build 35,000 new homes across the city over the next 15 years.

Speaking on hew new role, Ms Campbell said: "I'm delighted to be Liverpool's new Head of Planning and it's a real honour to be the first female officer in this role.

"Liverpool is undergoing phenomenal change and although this presents a great many challenges in terms of which areas need developing and how, it also provides huge opportunities to make the city a better place to live, work and visit.

"Liverpool's World Heritage status is a fascinating issue to be involved and I'm lucky to be at the heart of many exciting projects that will shape the city for generations to come.

"I've learnt a great deal over the years and I'm looking forward to using all that experience to continue to build on existing relationships to promote a positive, engaging and customer focused planning department."

Nick Kavanagh, Director for Regeneration at Liverpool City Council, said: "Samantha will make an excellent Head of Planning. Over the years she has developed a huge amount of experience across a vast range of complex planning schemes and high profile issues and has handled them all with great aplomb and professionalism.

"Samantha is a fantastic asset to the city council and I've no doubt she will provider her team and the planning committee with the leadership, counsel and expertise they will need for the challenges that lie ahead."

(LM/MH)