WIGAN Council has appointed a new Director of Planning to succeed John Sloane, who will retire in November.

Martin Kimber, currently Assistant Director of Planning and Transportation with Barnsley Council, will be the new man at the helm of the high-profile service.

Mr Kimber, aged 46, has been with the South Yorkshire council since 1996.

John Sloane is retiring after thirty six years of working in Wigan -- more than twenty of them spent in charge of the borough's planning service.

The Preston-born, Manchester University graduate joined the former Wigan County Borough Council in the late 1960s after a period with Lancashire County Council and since 1980 has led the planning department as it spearheaded a whole series of major improvements across the borough.

Among his many achievements he'll be remembered as the driving force behind the building of The Galleries and the redevelopment of Wigan and Leigh town centres. He has also led the Borough's drive to reclaim most of its derelict land and conserve its rich wildlife heritage.

Council chief executive Steve Jones said: "We will miss John and his unrivalled knowledge and understanding of the Borough. He has made a huge contribution to the creation of a more attractive, vibrant and prosperous community over the past thirty years.

"However in Martin Kimber I am sure we have a worthy successor, with a proven track record in leading a successful planning service in an area that shares many similarities with Wigan."