Bell Pottinger Public Affairs has hired Steve Summers as an Account Director. He started at the end of March and will join BPPA's highly successful Local Government and Planning Unit.

A qualified solicitor, Steve practised at Taylor Wessing LLP for over five years, specialising in commercial property and property finance, and acting for developers, landlords, tenants and banks. He has had articles published in Estates Gazette and Property Week, and has been a Conservative Party activist for the past 15 years.

Director of the Local Government and Planning Unit Emma Waterfall said: "We are delighted to welcome Steve to the team. Since our launch two years ago, we have expanded rapidly, winning high profile projects such as Stonehenge Visitors Centre, TAG Farnborough Airport and Battersea Power Station. Steve's appointment is hugely exciting for the growth of the team - he brings with him a first hand insight into local government and planning."

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Notes for Editor:

Steve Summers has been a Conservative member of Westminster City Council since 2006.

Before joining Bell Pottinger, he resigned from the Planning Applications Sub-Committee, which he had chaired.

He will also, of course, not work for Bell Pottinger on any planning or development matter within Westminster.

For further information contact Emma Waterfall at Bell Pottinger Public Affairs on 020 7861 3812 or visit www.bppa.co.uk.

Bell Pottinger Public Affairs is part of the Bell Pottinger Group.