About Figura

Figura is a small independent planning consultancy, focused
on doing the job for public and private sector clients, rather
than on its own corporate growth. This means lower overheads
and more analyst/planning hours for clients’ money.

The company’s expertise is in policy, data and delivery and its aim is to
promote high quality planning and development which meets the needs of
people and the world we live in both now and into the future.

Figura was set up by Mary Elkington, a former NASA employee who has since become involved in the even more complex world of planning. She is keen to promote innovative ways to square the twin emergencies facing this country – delivering the housing we need and facing up to climate change before it is too late.

Mary Elkington
MRTPI BSc MSc MaTCP
Technical Director

Mary Elkington is a chartered town planner with experience in spatial information, spatial planning, development management, project management and GIS and IT systems working in the public and commercial sector. As a planning consultant and director of Figura Planning Ltd, Mary specialises in planning policy and development delivery alongside spatial data and policy research and mapping projects. Current clients include local authorities, social housing providers, MHCLGfunded specialist advisors, and private and third sector clients.

Evidence and planning services for Local Authorities includes site assessments and viability for strategic planning, detailed local housing market research and evidence, and support to s106 and development negotiations on behalf of housing authorities and registered providers. Research activities focus on housing markets and demographics, with specific work on post-occupancy assessments of major residentialled developments including empirical assessments of what has been delivered and measures of new residents opinions and actions. Development Management services for third sector and custom build developers includes preparation and submissionof planning applications which involves coordinating the technical team on civils, ecology, architecture and more.

As the Principal Growth Point Officer for Teignbridge District Council from 2008 to 2014 Mary promoted planning for delivery of large-scale development and infrastructure and worked to secure funding to help bring forward delivery and led bids securing more than £3m in grant funding. Mary led the Councils infrastructure planning and CIL, and plan viability leading to successful Local Plan and CIL examinations.

Marys early career involved using GIS and analytical skills working for Civil Engineers and Software companies before joining NASA working on Earth Observation and Climate Change Mission to Planet Earth between 1989 to 1995. Following relocation to England in 1995 Mary worked as a data scientist for Earth Observation Sciences (Orbital Sciences) supporting clients including the European Commission and the British National Space Centre.

Simon Thornley
MRTPI, BSc BTP
Planning Director

Simon Thornley, MRTPI, Planning Director Figura Planning, has a depth of experience with eight adopted local testifying to his strength having seen 11 Local Plans through examinaiton to adoption.  Simon has been a member of local plan teams at Avon, Mid Devon, Teignbridge, Taunton Deane and Welwyn Hatfield, leading the Mid Devon and Teignbridge teams. As the Business Manager for Spatial Planning and Delivery at Teignbridge Simon led the successful Garden Communities bids for Newton Abbot and Greater Exeter.

Simon also managed the joint team preparing the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan on behalf of five councils. Having joined Figura Planning in early 2020 Simon provides contracted and direct support to Local Planning Authorities with tricky site allocations, housing needs assessments and greenbelt issues for the ongoing local plan enquiry.

Simon is an economics graduate and chartered town planner with a very strong record in plan-making spanning a 30-year career. Simon has unique experience and knowledge in policy, site assessment, economics, housing, demographics research and report writing and he has acted as an expert planning witness on many occasions. This has included giving evidence as an expert witness at six successful development plan inquiries/examinations and programme management of plans from inception through to adoption.

Under Simons leadership, Teignbridge not only adopted its first local plan for 19 years in 2014 but was an early CIL adopter in the same year. Housing and infrastructure provision both accelerated in Teignbridge after that date, reflecting the influence of these key planning documents. An innovative approach to delivery of self-build plots through the Teignbridge Rule was just one of the outcomes.

Simon was Planning Policy Team Leader at Mid Devon Council between 2000 and 2010. During this time the council finalised the Mid Devon Local Plan Alteration and then quickly moved to adopt one of the first Core Strategies in England in 2007. His earlier planning career involved local and structure plans at Avon County Council and then acting as the councils expert witness at Taunton Deane Council, defending a site for a new village (since built) against some very highly paid barristers.