Hitting the High Notes - Alice Lester

This is the fourteenth episode in Sam Stafford's Hitting the High Notes series. If you have not listened to one of these before the basic proposition is that Sam chats to preeminent figures in the planning and property sectors about the six planning permissions or projects that helped to shape them as professionals. And, so that listeners can get to know people a little better personally, for every project or stage of their career Sam also asks his guests for a piece of music that reminds them of that period. Think of it as town planning’s equivalent of Desert Island Discs. Unlike Desert Island Discs though you will not hear any of that music during the episode because using commercially-licensed music without the copyright holders permission or a very expensive PRS licensing agreement could land Sam in hot water, so, when you have finished listening, you will have to make do with YouTube videos and a Spotify playlist, links to which you will find below. Sam's guest for this episode of Hitting The High Notes is Alice Lester who, planners might have read back in June 2025, is stepping down from her role as Corporate Director for Neighbourhoods & Regeneration at Brent Council. In a conversation recorded at Soho Radio Studios at the end of July 2025, Alice takes Sam through her career to date. Alice talks about her early days in development control, rising through the ranks in Westminster and Camden; her decade or so at the Planning Advisory Service; her involvement with Wembley Park and encounters with Tony Pidgley; and her drive to make it easier for the people of Brent to build kitchen extensions... Some accompanying listening. Alice’s Spotify playlist London Calling – The Clash Love Is A Losing Game – Amy Winehouse Freedom! 90 – George Michael Shake It Off – Taylor Swift (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding Our House – Madness Some accompanying reading. Charles Goode’s Green Belt Book Launch and Discussion Any other business. 50 Shades T-Shirts! If you have listened to Episode 45 of the 50 Shades of Planning you will have heard Clive Betts say that... 'In the Netherlands planning is seen as part of the solution. In the UK, too often, planning is seen as part of the problem'. Sam said in reply that that would look good on a t-shirt and it does. Further details can be found here. Sam is on Bluesky and Instagram. His blog contains a link to his newsletter.