Associate (Infrastructure Planning)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Exeter; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking an experienced Associate Planner to join our Infrastructure Planning Team in the UK. You will support town planning and consenting inputs on major infrastructure projects, working with multidisciplinary teams to secure consent under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning Act 2008, and related regimes.

The successful candidate will demonstrate collaboration with clients and stakeholders, strong technical advisory skills, and experience in project delivery within a

Qualifications

• Experience leading town planning or consenting inputs on major infrastructure projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs).
• Ability to provide technical advice to clients and manage consenting requirements.
• Coordination of consent applications under Town and Country Planning Acts, Planning Act 2008 or other regimes.
• Negotiations with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients.
• Proactive development of knowledge and skills to support the team.

Responsibilities

• Manage or lead town planning inputs on major infrastructure projects.
• Coordinate preparation and submission of consent applications.
• Engage with multidisciplinary teams and provide technical oversight.
• Support negotiations with statutory bodies and stakeholders.

Skills

Managing multi-disciplinary teams

Technical advisory

Stakeholder negotiations

Project financing understanding

Line management

Education

Degree in town planning (or equivalent)

RTPI membership

Job description

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

WSP is an award-winning consultancy that employees the largest number of chartered town planners across the UK, operating within both the infrastructure and property markets. In December 2025, WSP won the RTPI’s Planning Consultancy of the Year with judges commending the Team for their excellence in uniting diverse disciplines to achieve outstanding results, praising the team's strong community engagement.

It has never been a more exciting time to join WSP’s market-leading Infrastructure Planning Team. Our success is built on employing highly skilled consenting specialists that have experience in serving a diverse portfolio of clients in the energy, renewables, nuclear, net zero, water, rail and transportation and aviation sectors. We work at all stages of the consenting process from early feasibility, application preparation and delivery of consents through construction and on a variety of projects across sectors.

With notable contract and framework awards from National Grid as part of the Great Grid Partnership as well as awards from many other clients, we have a great foundation for growth in 2026.

Our key clients include National Grid as part of the Great Grid Partnership, National Gas as part of Project Union, Nuclear Waste Services, EET Fuels, Eni UK, SSE, Scottish Power Renewables, Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, and many more.

To continue to sustainably grow as a business, we are looking for an experienced Associate Planner to join our team to support town planning and consenting inputs on major and nationally significant infrastructure projects. The successful candidates will have demonstrable experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams to secure consent and approvals for major or nationally significant infrastructure projects via the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning Act 2008 and Transport and Works Act Order. We are also interested to hear from people that have experience in securing consents for major projects by means of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, or the Electricity Act.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate...

• Managing, or leading aspects of, the town planning or consenting inputs on major infrastructure projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs etc)
• Providing technical advice to clients and managing their consenting requirements demonstrating awareness of client’s expectations and needs.
• Co-ordinating the preparation and submission of consent applications which may include applications under the Town and Country Planning Acts, the Planning Act 2008 or other regimes (as listed above).
• Supporting negotiations with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients.
• Lead engagement with teams across a variety of disciplines, providing technical oversight.
• Actively supports and contributes to achievement, building positive relationships within project and discipline teams.
• Proactively develops own knowledge and skills to build ability and team’s internal knowledge base.
• Solid understanding of project finances and project management experience, ideally within a consultancy environment.
• Line management / mentoring colleagues by supporting them in their work project delivery roles.
• Degree level qualification in town planning (or equivalent).
• Member of the RTPI.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close-knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.