All good wishes are extended to Michael Houghton on his retirement from the PDA Committee.
The Association has benefitted greatly from his knowledge & experience in planning at a time when there was a great deal of change and development in the South East.

Michael began his working life after University as a Chartered Town Planner with the City of Stoke-on-Trent.
In 1976 he moved to Thanet as Head of Planning Policy and Conservation. During his time he produced the first local plan and established the Town schemes for Ramsgate & Margate conservation areas for the restoration of Historic Buildings. In addition, he produced the initial report for the Council which finally secured assisted funding for Thanet and was a member of the Government working party for the Channel Tunnel Project. As a Council insider he bravely gave evidence as an objector to the first Public Enquiry for the Ramsgate Harbour Access Road.
In 1994 after completing his Doctorate at Kent University he left Thanet Council and taught at Universities in Kent & London .Two years later he joined the recently established Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in London.
Over the 10 years spent at HLF he was heavily involved in restoration projects of National importance at Chatham Historic Dockyard, The Royal Navy Submarine Museum at Gosport, The Marie Rose Museum at Portsmouth ,Bletchley Park, Stowe School, The Devils Causeway and The Grange in Ramsgate as well as many others.

We would like to announce that the Committee have voted to make Michael Houghton a life Member of the Pegwell & District Association in recognition for all his achievements, time and energy put into the Association over the years.