Tom was a planning officer employed by Weatherfield Borough Council and tasked with writing a recommendation for the application by a consortium headed by Ray Crosby and Debbie Webster to demolish the non-terraced side of Coronation Street and the surrounding area and build a high-rise development of swanky flats in its place. The application faced fierce opposition from many, though not all, of the area's residents.
Ray's underhand tactics had backfired on him and led to the plan facing difficulties that may have been avoided with more a diplomatic and business-like approach. Knowing that Tom was going to be in area, they lured him under a pretext into the Viaduct Bistro having previously invited Dev Alahan to join them as they hoped he would give an alternative viewpoint to all the protests. The shopkeeper immediately went into a rapturous description of the plans and lauded a modestly smiling Ray as a pioneer who was going to regenerate the area. He and Debbie managed to place some food and drink in front of an uncomfortable Tom who looked for any excuse to leave while also viewing Ray's protestations of altruism with a cynical eye. Ray, as always, couldn't help but overstep the mark and offered Tom a free stay at one of his hotels. Tom firmly told him that he hoped he wasn't being offered a bribe, placed the money he felt he owed for the food and drink on the table and immediately left. Later that afternoon, he completed his report, recommending to the planning committee that the application was rejected.
- Credited as "Planning Officer", the character's name was given in dialogue.