My friend Ken Burley, who has died aged 80, was a town planner with a public service ethos. A member of the Royal Town Planning Institute, he worked professionally in local authorities and voluntarily in numerous capacities.
From 1974 to 2004 he worked for Doncaster metropolitan borough council, progressing from assistant chief planner for development plans and research to retire as head of planning services and acting head of strategic development. His work helped steer the borough through significant land use and social changes as the local economy pivoted from coal mining towards alternatives.
Ken led the team that wrote the borough’s unitary development plan, creating strategic and local planning policies. He also led the council’s initial planning work to develop Doncaster Sheffield international airport from the former RAF Finningley. Coalfield regeneration and regional planning were significant interests. He recognised the economic and social benefits of quality design and environments. His quiet courage, persistence and integrity, particularly when supporting policy, won respect.
In 1995, supported by a few colleagues and people outside the council, he took the difficult decision to become an internal “whistleblower”, having become concerned at irregularities in some of the decisions made by the planning committee. This helped expose corruption in a case known as part of “Donnygate”.
A police investigation resulted in two successful crown court trials in which Ken was the senior planning witness. They concluded in 2002. He wrote an account for the journal Planning Theory & Practice, summarising measures to improve probity in planning.
Born in Sheffield, Ken was the second son of Betty (nee Hartley) and Douglas, who ran a newsagent’s shop. He attended High Storrs grammar school, then gained a degree in economics from the University of Sheffield and a postgraduate diploma in town planning from Leeds College of Art.
A progression of posts at Sheffield city council (1966-71) and Walsall county borough council (1971-74) provided experience in strategic planning and development control before he moved to Doncaster. After leaving Doncaster he worked freelance for Hambleton district council, in North Yorkshire, and private clients.
Ken’s decades of voluntary work for the Royal Town Planning Institute at national and regional level included many years chairing its Yorkshire region’s branch committee, planning aid committee and European network. In 2014 he received an RTPI outstanding service award.
Other voluntary interests included South Yorkshire Buildings Preservation Trust, the Yorkshire branch of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, and Friends of Cusworth Park. He spoke fluent German, and visited Germany, supporting planning students, town planners and town twinning.
He was a committed group Scout leader and Sunday school superintendent, and with his wife, Chris, was an active Methodist. Married in 1966, they had two children and fostered 13, two of whom remained as family. They were stalwart supporters of the local community, young people and anyone alone or in need.
Ken is survived by Chris, their children and eight grandchildren, and his brother and sister.
