Assistant Planner/Town Planner

Carrington West; Cranfield; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected consultancy in Cranfield is seeking an Assistant Planning Consultant/Planning Consultant to support planning activities, identify development opportunities, and assist with planning applications. The ideal candidate will have experience in strategic planning and strong organisational skills, with opportunities for professional development. This role provides exposure to a variety of projects within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic planning and land promotion.
• Confident in communicating with various stakeholders.
• Proactive learning about planning policy and legislation.

Responsibilities

• Support planning activities and identify development opportunities.
• Prepare site appraisals and planning strategy recommendations.
• Assist with planning applications and preparing supporting documents.
• Monitor Local Plan preparation and related consultations.
• Coordinate third-party consultants and attend stakeholder meetings.

Skills

Strategic planning

Development assessment

Land promotion

Research abilities

Organisational skills

Education

Working towards professional qualifications (e.g., RTPI)

Job description

Job Title: Assistant Planning Consultant/Planning Consultant

Location: Bedfordshire

Salary: Up to £40,000 DOE

Are you looking to build a strong foundation in planning, land promotion, and development strategy? This is an excellent opportunity to join a respected consultancy where you will gain hands‑on experience across both strategic planning and development management, working closely with experienced colleagues in both Planning and Land teams.

The Role

In this role, you will support a wide range of planning activities, playing a key part in identifying development opportunities, contributing to planning strategy, and assisting in the preparation and management of planning work across the business. You will:

• Contribute to site identification and assessment, reviewing technical and policy constraints, Local Plan progress, and Neighbourhood Plans to determine development potential.
• Meet with landowners, developers, and agents to understand site opportunities, discuss planning considerations, and maintain a database of development requirements.
• Prepare site appraisals, early‑stage development assessments, and planning strategy recommendations to support land promotion and acquisition decisions.
• Assist senior planners with planning applications, pre‑app submissions, appeals, fee proposals, and preparation of supporting documents.
• Review enquiries, carry out policy research, and check reports for accuracy and alignment with planning policy and project strategy.
• Monitor Local Plan preparation, planning applications, and relevant consultations, helping to identify opportunities for client involvement.
• Help coordinate third‑party consultants, quotations, and supporting technical inputs.
• Assist with materials for public consultations and attend events, client meetings, stakeholder discussions, Parish Council sessions, and Planning Committee (with note‑taking responsibilities).

About You

You will be someone with experience in strategic planning, development assessment, and land promotion. You should be confident communicating with a range of stakeholders and enthusiastic about developing your technical skills.

You will also be expected to:

• Demonstrate strong organisational and research abilities.
• Proactively learn about planning policy and legislation.
• Work towards professional qualifications (e.g., RTPI) with full support from the business.

Why Apply?

This role offers an excellent pathway into planning consultancy, giving you exposure to both strategic and development management work, a wide variety of projects, and long‑term professional development opportunities within a supportive team.

To apply or find out more

To apply or find out more, please send your CV to Georgia Cookson or call 02393 876 099 for a confidential conversation.

Job Reference: 62455