About
We live and breathe planning and we know the system inside-out.
From drafting planning schemes, to presenting evidence, to development approvals, we are expert planning people.
About
If cities are built for people, we’re built to help people with their planning.
Cities and towns are living things: complex, connected, and evolving. That’s why planning rules can take on lives of their own.
At Glossop Town Planning, we’re expert planning people, operating on the heart of Victoria’s planning system.
With over three decades advising public and private sector clients, we work on the pulse of planning projects great and small.
From drafting planning schemes, to presenting evidence, to navigating permission pathways, we are expert planning people.
For Glossop, planning is vocation, passion, and purpose.
If cities are built for people—we’re built to help people with their planning.
We’re expert planning people.
Glossop Values
- Collaboration
- Client Focus
- Expertise
- Integrity
- Precision
John Glossop
Director
John Glossop founded Glossop Town Planning in 1997 after a decade in public practice. A qualified town planner with over 30 years’ experience, John has appeared in hundreds of VCAT and Planning Panel hearings. He’s respected for his strategic insight, clear advice, and practical understanding of Victoria’s planning system.
Cecilia Glossop
General Manager
Cecilia oversees the firm’s operations, client relationships, and business development. With a background in entrepreneurship and innovation, she ensures that each project runs smoothly from first contact to final approval. Cecilia combines operational precision with a strong commitment to client service and continuous improvement.
Edwina Laidlaw
Senior Associate
Edwina leads Glossop’s development approvals practice, bringing more than two decades experience in Victorian planning across both statutory and strategic fields. She manages complex applications through the permit and VCAT processes, and is known for her detailed approach and deep knowledge of local policy. Edwina brings clarity and consistency to every project she leads.
Hew Gerrard
Senior Associate
Hew leads Glossop’s VCAT advocacy practice and delivers statutory planning advice. He has extensive experience appearing before VCAT. Hew’s practical, outcome-focused approach ensures strong representation for private and public sector clients alike.
Matthew Gilbertson
Senior Associate
Matthew leads the strategic practice developing and reviewing strategic planning, policy review, and disaster risk reduction. He has led projects reviewing and drafting flood provisions and controls across Victoria and helped councils such as Bayside, Brimbank, Knox City and Nillumbik strengthen planning responses to natural hazards. Known for his lateral approach to complex challenges, Matthew also lectures at RMIT, and brings clear analysis and practical direction to every project.
Charlotte Glossop
Associate
Charlotte manages statutory and strategic planning projects across metropolitan and regional Victoria. Her focus is on delivering efficient, policy-aligned outcomes through clear documentation and proactive communication. She has experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and navigating complex approvals with professionalism and care.
1997
John Glossop establishes the firm—keen to chart his own path and work at the heart of planning in Victoria.
2010
We’ve always believed planners are under-appreciated as a rule—and we couldn’t resist this pun.
2014
Brewing up some industry advocacy? John’s passion for the sector shines through in a stubby holder.
2019
John Glossop appointed as a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia, recognising more than three decades of leadership, teaching, and contribution to planning practice and education.
2023
Glossop Town Planning named Winner of the PIA Award for Planning Excellence, celebrating the firm’s enduring commitment to quality, insight, and impact across Victoria.
Industry training
We’re the planners the planning industry calls upon for training.
Through our training arm ADDO, we deliver specialised planning training for professionals through peak bodies, private enterprise, Councils, and state government.
Memberships
Our planning passion is reflected in our memberships.
