About Us
Avocado Planning was founded to bridge the gap between people and the planning system — offering clear, grounded advice in a process that often feels opaque or overwhelming.
The practice is built on a simple principle: good planning advice is not just about policy, but about judgement, context, and understanding how decisions are truly made.
Avocado Planning operates selectively, taking on projects where thoughtful strategy and professional discretion add genuine value. This is not a high-volume production line consultancy, but a considered, judgement-led practice.
Founded by Mariam Blake
Avocado Planning is led by Mariam Blake, a full-time planning professional working within a local authority, with extensive experience assessing and determining a wide range of planning applications.
Alongside her public-sector role, Mariam offers private consultancy services on a selective basis — bringing the same rigour, honesty, and strategic thinking to private clients as she does to her work within the planning system.
This dual perspective allows Avocado Planning to offer insight that is practical, grounded, and realistic — focused on what genuinely matters in decision-making.
Professional independence
Avocado Planning operates with clear professional boundaries.
To avoid any conflict of interest, Mariam does not take on private planning work for sites located within the local authority in which she is employed, nor does she advise on applications connected to her public-sector role.
This ensures independence, transparency, and integrity across both public and private practice.