Sarah Richards

Sarah Richards has had a varied career but has always worked in or alongside the public sector.  Before starting her role as Chief Executive of The Planning Inspectorate in March 2016, Sarah was a Strategic Director at Slough Borough Council leading finance, regeneration and housing.

Sarah began her career as a planner and worked in a number of roles in local government and the NHS. Sarah left local government to move to the private sector where she set up and led Zurich Municipal Management Services, a consultancy providing risk based services to the public sector.

Moving back to the public sector Sarah set up and led the Planning Advisory Service and then moved to the Local Government Association as a national adviser on housing and economic growth.