Background and industry experience

Nial is a chartered town planner and joined after nearly two decades in local authority planning. He started as a junior planner at Liverpool City Council before moving to Chester City Council in 2005. Following the formation of Cheshire West and Chester Council in 2009, he held several senior roles, including a two-year spell managing enforcement, before being appointed as Planning Team Manager in 2015. He has experience of dealing with a very diverse range of development types, from conservatories to major urban and rural redevelopment schemes and is at home mediating between a broad variety of customers. His role at Fisher German is to lead and develop the planning team in the North West, covering the Chester, Knutsford and Stafford offices, seeking to strengthen existing relationships and develop new ones.

Nial is originally from Nottingham but has lived around Merseyside for the past 20 years. He currently lives in Ellesmere Port with his wife Sara and he has three children. Outside of work, he is a Nottingham Forest fan and is almost old enough to remember the back-end of the glory days, although the only time he has seen them win silverware is the ZDS Cup final win in 1993. Apart from football, he enjoys running and keeping fit and has run in several half-marathons in recent years. He also tries gardening and would love to properly learn to play the guitar and ukulele. He has been known to bake, brew ale and make cheese to varying degrees of success.

Finally, Nial has also had his share of TV fame, having appeared in BBC2's 'The Planners' and 'Permission Impossible' a few years ago, although he does slightly lament the fact that this did not lead to a career as a Z list celebrity.

About me

What year did you start your job?
I joined the firm in 2018

Why did you join Fisher German?
I had been looking for a different direction but had yet to find anything which really grabbed me. The role at FG was exciting and I felt that it represented a perfect opportunity to utilise and develop my skills and build a team

What has been your favourite project and why?
My two favourite projects in my former role were Chester Zoo and the regeneration of the Boughton Centre in Chester. Both projects were interesting and complex and to see them come to fruition was very rewarding.

Top pastime?
Running. It's perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of life for a short while whilst keeping fit.

Best holiday destination?
Italy - beautiful landscapes and towns and incredible history

Who would you like to be stranded in a lift with?
Brian Clough

Favourite film?
There's an incredible number of films I have never seen. Of the few that I have I would say Babe is top - pulls the heartstrings every time.