Senior counsel from one of the UK's most experienced planning communications advisers.
A career shaped by politics, policy and place.
Paul Boyfield is one of the UK's leading advisers on the politics of planning and development, specialising in political strategy, planning communications and stakeholder engagement. For more than 25 years, he has helped developers, landowners, investors and infrastructure providers navigate the political and communications challenges associated with complex projects.
Throughout his career, Paul has advised on major residential developments, strategic land promotion, regeneration schemes, logistics, commercial property, renewable energy and nationally significant infrastructure projects. He is recognised for combining political insight, commercial understanding and communications expertise to help clients position projects in ways that decision-makers can support.
Before entering consultancy, Paul worked as a researcher in the House of Commons, a speechwriter in the House of Lords and for the European Policy Forum, providing an early grounding in politics, public policy and political communications.
From founding Lexington North to Racefield today.
In 2009, Paul founded Lexington North, building it into the largest specialist planning communications consultancy in Northern England. Under his leadership, the firm advised many of the UK's leading developers, land promoters, infrastructure providers and public sector organisations, earning a reputation as one of the country's foremost advisers in planning and development communications. In 2022, the business was successfully acquired by a leading international communications group. Following the acquisition, Paul continued to provide senior strategic counsel on nationally significant development and infrastructure projects.
Over more than two decades, Paul has helped shape the planning communications profession itself. He has designed, managed and overseen hundreds of consultation and stakeholder engagement programmes, pioneering many of the techniques and approaches that are now widely used across the industry.
Today, Paul works directly with a select number of clients through Racefield Consulting, providing senior strategic advice personally on every assignment. Racefield reflects a deliberate return to a more personal model of consultancy, giving clients direct access to experienced judgement without the layers typically found within larger agencies.
Senior roles in property and development.
Alongside Racefield Consulting, Paul also holds senior appointments within the property and development sector.
He is currently a Partner at TEA Real Estate, a specialist development company focused on identifying, promoting and delivering opportunities within the rapidly expanding data centre sector. This role provides valuable developer-side experience, complementing more than 25 years advising clients on planning strategy, political engagement and communications.
Paul also undertakes a small number of independent advisory appointments, allowing him to remain closely involved in the commercial realities of development and investment while continuing to provide strategic advice through Racefield Consulting.
Advising across the full breadth of UK planning and development.
Residential Development
Strategic land promotion, local plan allocations, planning applications and large‑scale housing delivery.
Regeneration
Town centre regeneration, mixed‑use development and complex urban projects.
Infrastructure
Transport, utilities and major infrastructure schemes requiring political and stakeholder engagement.
Renewable Energy
Solar, wind and low‑carbon projects operating within sensitive political and community environments.
Logistics & Commercial
Distribution, employment and commercial schemes requiring careful stakeholder management.
Public Policy & Governance
Combined authorities, devolution, regional growth initiatives and public sector projects.