Farm Planning Consultant

Foxes Rural; Colchester; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Foxes Rural in the United Kingdom seeks an experienced planner to assess farm holdings under GPDO, NPPF and local plan policy, and to draft planning statements and prior approvals that stand up on appeal. You will manage your own caseload and deliver Stage 1 Planning Strategies.

You will join a small team with the Planning Director reviewing every case; the role offers office-based work in Essex or remote options, requiring a degree with an evidence-based approach and RTPI/RICS accreditation.

Qualifications

• Degree in planning or related field required.
• RTPI or RICS accreditation or equivalent preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and evidence-based approach.

Responsibilities

• Assess farm holdings against GPDO, NPPF and local plan policy.
• Write planning statements and prior approval submissions for appeal readiness.
• Run your own caseload and deliver Stage 1 Planning Strategies.
• Explain positions clearly to clients, including when the answer is no.

Skills

Evidence-based approach

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in planning or related field

RTPI or RICS accreditation or equivalent

Job description

You trained to make sound planning decisions. The job often stops you. This role is office based in Essex or remote, full time. Foxes Rural works only on farm planning, for farmers and rural landowners across the UK: agricultural permitted development under Part 6, Class Q and Class R conversions, full planning in the countryside, biodiversity net gain, condition discharge and enforcement.

What you will do:

assess farm holdings against the GPDO, the NPPF and local plan policy; write planning statements and prior approval submissions that would stand up at appeal; run your own caseload; deliver Stage 1 Planning Strategies; and explain the position plainly to clients, including when the answer is no.

How the work is run:

every enquiry and instruction has a named owner, every case is reviewed by our Planning Director before it goes to the client, and Stage 1 strategy calls are recorded and transcribed.

What you need:

a degree, qualified planner status or equivalent, or RTPI or RICS accreditation; the patience to read a condition line by line; a preference for evidence over opinion; and to work from our office in Essex or remotely, whichever suits you. No farming background needed.