Our Team

Matthew Kendrick

Director

Matthew has over 20 years’ experience in the industry and is the founding Director of Grass Roots Planning, which he set up in 2010. Prior to this he worked for Barton Willmore (now part of Stantec) and as a Development Control Officer in the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. 

He has extensive experience in dealing with a variety of projects across all sectors, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams for large-scale developments from the pre-planning stage all the way through to post-development, as well as providing Expert Witness at Public Inquiry. He is known for providing pragmatic and innovative solutions to planning issues that also carefully balance the commercia considerations of every project. His recent focus has been on large-scale mixed-use developments that seek to deliver comprehensive infrastructure improvements to the areas where they are located.

Outside of the office Matthew enjoys cricket, rugby, cooking and skiing.

Coral Curtis

Associate Director

Coral began working part-time for Grass Roots whilst completing her Masters in Planning (Property Development) at UWE in Bristol. After graduating in June 2015, she began working full time and has now been with the company for over 8 years. 

She enjoys the variety and type of projects that Grass Roots brings and has vast experience in residential, commercial, retail and sports and leisure projects, having worked with a mix of clients in both the private and public sector. She enjoys working collaboratively with all members of a team and tries to secure positive and pragmatic solutions for all parties. 

Coral currently chairs the Young Entrepreneurs in Property (YEP) Bristol group and loves to organise networking events for her peers and others in the industry; she has a mild obsession with skiing and also enjoys gardening, walking, paddle boarding and travelling to see new places. 

Helen Ross

Associate Director

Helen has over 15 years’ experience in the planning industry, working for both the private and public sector; starting work as a research and policy officer at Bristol City Council; moving then to DLP Planning; and working on housing and employment projects across the southwest, Greater London and Bedfordshire; as well as housing and employment land studies on behalf of a number of Local Authorities. She joined Grass Roots as Associate Director in May 2022. 

Helen has significant experience in dealing with a variety of project scales, from smaller housing developments to leading multi-disciplinary teams on major residential and commercial schemes. She enjoys working collaboratively with the project team, and project managing applications through from local plan representations, pre-application engagement, outline and detailed reserved matters proposals. 

Outside of the office Helen enjoys spending time with family and friends, cycling, swimming and travel. 

Oliver Ansell

Associate

Olly joined Grass Roots as an Associate at the start of 2023, having recently moved to Bristol from Kent. He has had experience in both private and public practices having worked a number of years for Local Planning Authorities as well as a regional house builder. 

With an Masters in Urban Planning and Resilience, Olly has experience in a number of sectors, including strategic housing and mixed-use developments, commercial, renewables, education and healthcare. He also has an unhealthy knowledge of permitted development rights.

Outside of work, you’ll either find him in the gym, cooking an oversized meal or walking his dog through the woods.

Claudia Lopez-Leal

Planner

Claudia joined Grass Roots in April 2023 after finishing her Masters in Urban Planning at UWE. Before moving to Bristol she worked for multidisciplinary practices specialising in rural and urban regeneration in Mexico City and in London, where she gained experience managing a variety of projects, including Lottery-winning and community consultation schemes, urban and rural parks, residential and mixed-use developments.

Claudia’s background in landscape architecture brings a broad perspective to her role. She is particularly interested in approaching projects with an informed understanding of their unique characteristics as a means to produce outcomes that are sensitive and responsive to the natural and built environment, as well as to the client’s needs.



She enjoys gardening, swimming, paddle boarding and reading, and has a keen interest in design and architecture.