North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) has appointed a new head of planning, Nicola Baker.
Mrs Baker, 50, worked at Broadland District Council in a similar role before moving to Colchester Borough Council as head of planning and protection for seven years.
Most recently, she worked as head of planning and regulatory services for Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council in Suffolk for four years.
Born in Bournemouth and educated in Ipswich, Mrs Baker is a keen photographer and spent her honeymoon at Cromer lighthouse, in the snow.
She succeeds Steve Oxenham, 60, who retired as head of development management in June. Mr Oxenham joined NNDC as assistant chief planning officer (implementation) in the summer of 1990, became head of planning in 1999 and then head of planning and building control in 2005.
NNDC chief executive Sheila Oxtoby said 'Steve has been at the forefront of decision-making affecting the development of the district over the past 23 years involving residential, retail, commercial, industrial and increasingly renewable energy proposals.
'In doing so, Steve led his team through some tough decision-making, often in the face of opposition and intense scrutiny, and yet he did so in a measured, understated way. He was hugely respected by his colleagues, all of whom, including me, wish Steve a long and happy retirement.'
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