SHP focuses on value-added, highly tailored, commercial planning advice. The team has experience across a wide range of sectors, including large scale commercial, retail, housing, energy and infrastructure developments.
Services include planning and development strategy advice, planning appraisals, management of planning application processes, energy consenting, planning appeals and due diligence advice.
SHP Company Directors are Sheila Hobbs and Paul Scott. Sheila established SHP in 2004 following an extensive career in public and private sector planning throughout the British Isles. In May 2012 Paul joined SHP as Managing Director following a career in both the public and private sectors.
Paul and Sheila are supported by a valued professional team, which supports their enthusiasm and drive for commercially-driven, high quality planning advice to add value to clients assets.
Paul Scott - Managing Director
Paul is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and has advised clients throughout Britain and Ireland during his career spanning more than 30 years. Since 2004, he has been the lead planning advisor on some of Scotland’s largest mixed-use city centre projects. He has advised extensively on emerging strategic and local planning policy and legislation. His clients include developers, landowners, government agencies, financial institutions, property companies and institutional investors in the retail, residential, energy, infrastructure and commercial sectors. Prior to joining SHP in 2012 Paul held planning director and senior positions at national planning consultancies.
Sheila Hobbs - Planning Director
Sheila has worked throughout Britain and Ireland on high profile projects influencing strategic and local policy, and project managing major development proposals, during her career spanning 35 years. As a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, she has advised a range of private, public and third sector clients, including land owners, developers, businesses, private individuals, government agencies, local authorities and charities. Her projects focus primarily on commercial, retail, hotel and leisure, distillery and industrial, and residential developments.
Julia Frost - Planning Director
Julia is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute with 24 years’ experience advising clients in the public, private and third sectors, both in the UK and South Africa. She was previously a Director at a national planning consultancy and Operations Manager at Planning Aid Scotland. Julia was Convenor of RTPI Scotland in 2019 and currently Chairs RTPI Scotland’s International Group. She sat on various Scottish Government working groups to help shape the legislative framework around the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 and is a trained community engagement facilitator and mediator. Julia has experience across all commercial sectors.
Hugh Shepherd - Associate Director
Hugh has gained nearly 10 years experience within the planning sector, becoming a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 2018. He joined Scott Hobbs Planning as a Principal Planner in April 2023 and is currently an Associate Director. His experience has been predominantly within consultancy assisting clients unlocking value from assets and navigating the planning system. Hugh spent two years as part of the South East Young Planners Committee. He benefits from cross boarder experience in both England and Scotland across a variety of sectors, most recently as a Case Office dealing with major developments in Midlothian Council.
Gareth David - Principal Planner
Gareth is a Principal Planner at Scott Hobbs Planning, having joined the team in April 2025. He brings nearly 10 years of experience in public sector planning across both Australia and the UK, with a strong track record in managing complex development proposals. Most recently, Gareth has served as a Principal Planning Case Officer for Northern Beaches Council in Sydney, where he led assessments on a wide range of planning applications. His expertise spans multiple sectors, and he has gained valuable board-level experience in planning roles across both England and Australia.
Sharon-Lee Bow - Senior Planner
Sharon-lee is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Insititue as well as a Chartered Member of the Institute of Housing. She has worked in private consultancy since graduating with specialist expertise in residential, commercial and short-term let sectors. She joined the team in May 2024 and continues to assist in various sectors.
Varshini Gorjala - Senior Planner
Varshini comes from a background in Architecture from India and did her MSc in Spatial Planning and Sustainable Urban Design from University of Dundee. She joined the team in January 2022 and has recently achieved her RTPI Chartered membership. She assists in housing, student accommodation, commercial, distillery and mixed-use developments, providing a supporting planning role to the SHP team.
Niamh Toner - Planner
Niamh started with Scott Hobbs Planning as Intern in 2022 before graduating Urban Planning MA (Hons) from the University of Dundee in 2023. She is currently working towards her RTPI Chartered membership. Niamh assists in student accommodation, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and mixed used developments, providing a supporting planning role to SHP Team.