Richard Mellish is the Head Development Consents & Planning Reform at DECC (Department for Energy and Climate Change) responsible for energy development consents and the Department's interests in the planning system. His responsibilities cover planning control of energy infrastructure, onshore and offshore, including conventional power stations, power lines, windfarms and gas storage.He has been closely involved in the development of offshore renewable energy and his team co-ordinate a programme of Government funded windfarm impact research. As Richard is also the Board member chairing the COWRIE environmental research working group, he aims to ensure synergy between the two programmes. 

Richard worked in a number of Government departments before taking up his energy responsibilities. Previous duties have covered housing and regeneration policy, construction industry sponsorship and sustainable development.