Faces of Boyer: Matt Clarke

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations, we’re shining a light on the people who have helped shape Boyer into the company it is today. First up in our Faces of Boyer series is Matt Clarke, Director and Head of our Colchester office, who’s been with Boyer for over two decades.

From Planner to Head of Office
Matt joined Boyer in January 2003 as a Planner. Over the last 22 years, he’s steadily progressed through the ranks—Senior Planner, Principal Planner, Associate Director—before becoming Director and Head of our Colchester team.
“When I started, there were only around 15 people in the whole company, spread across three offices,” he recalls. “It’s been incredible to see the growth of Boyer—both in size and in the range of projects we take on.”

A Career-Defining Project
One of Matt’s proudest achievements is his long-running involvement in the development of Waterbeach New Town.
“It’s a project I began working on in my very first week at Boyer, and I’ve been involved ever since. It’s been epic in scale and complexity, but incredibly rewarding. We’ve hit key milestones over the years—from securing a local plan allocation in 2018 to planning permission for a new railway station in 2020, and most recently outline consent for up to 4,500 new homes, schools, commercial space and more in late 2024. It’s been amazing to see it all come together."

The Culture That Keeps You
Despite Boyer’s growth, Matt believes the company has held on to what makes it special.
“There’s still a strong family feel. It’s a positive culture where people genuinely care about the work and each other.”
That culture, combined with the diversity of projects and the opportunity to “see things through,” has kept Matt at Boyer for over two decades. He credits the company’s founders and his colleagues in the Colchester team for inspiring and supporting his career journey.

How Planning Has Changed
Reflecting on the evolution of the planning profession, Matt points to the impact of technology.
“In the early days, if you wanted to look at a Local Plan or planning history, you’d often have to drive halfway across the country to a council office—it could take all day! Now, so much of what we do is online, from research to submitting applications. That’s been a huge leap forward in terms of efficiency.”

Advice to the Next Generation
“Go for it,” Matt says. “Planning is a dynamic, interesting and often very rewarding career. Yes, there are challenges—and progress can take time—but the sense of achievement when you see a development finally built is second to none. You’ll never be bored!”

Thank you, Matt, for your dedication, leadership and lasting impact on Boyer.