Graduate Town Planning Consultant - Newcastle

Arup; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Arup is seeking a Graduate Town Planning Consultant to join our Newcastle team. You will support planning policy reviews, assess site constraints and opportunities, and prepare planning applications and statements as part of multidisciplinary teams.

You should have an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or related field, a good grasp of the UK planning system, and strong report writing, stakeholder engagement and presentation skills. A curious, proactive mindset is essential.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or bachelor's degree in Urban Planning, Geography, Urban Design or related planning subject.
• Understanding of the UK planning system (TCPA, DCO, Local Plans, NPPF); strong report writing; critical thinker; policy interpretation; research and evidence assessment; stakeholder engagement; presentation skills; consultation analysis; time management and managing multiple workstreams; team collaboration.
• Desirable skills include GIS basics to intermediate, development viability awareness and client-focused thinking.

Responsibilities

• Undertake planning policy review and analysis
• Review site constraints and opportunities
• Draft reports, briefing notes and consultation responses
• Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• Prepare planning applications and supporting statements

Skills

UK planning knowledge

Report writing

Stakeholder engagement

Presentation skills

Time management

Team collaboration

GIS (desirable)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Urban Planning or related

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

PowerPoint

SharePoint

MS Teams

Copilot

Job description

Graduate Town Planning Consultant- Newcastle

See it differently

You see the world through a unique lens and that’s exactly what we need. We embrace how you see things differently – it’s essential for creating a sustainable future.

Arup is a global consultancy with advisory and technical expertise across more than 150 disciplines. We guide, plan and design the future of the built environment. Globally, each year we recruit hundreds of graduates and students who help us see things differently and solve the most complex challenges facing our clients, climate and communities.

The Opportunity

We have a small growing town planning team based in Newcastle that works on local and national projects across Development Management, Policy and Infrastructure workstreams. Our projects are a mixture of those which we lead multidisciplinary teams or single discipline commissions as well as those where we provide technical expertise on projects led by others, including external collaborators. We sit within a national network of over 100 town planners based around all our UK offices as well as within the Cities, Planning and Design portfolio, which includes transport planning and economic development. As we work across all internal Arup portfolios, we have a great variety in our work as well as with a range of external clients across sectors, we have great variety in our day‑to‑day work, collaborating with a wide range of external clients across sectors.

• Undertake planning policy review and analysis
• Review site constraints and opportunities
• Draft reports, briefing notes and consultation responses
• Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• Prepare planning applications and supporting statements

Is this role right for you?

For this opportunity, we are seeking the following qualifications, skills and attributes:

An undergraduate or bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, such as Urban Planning, Geography, Urban Design or a related planning subject.

Required for this role, Understanding of the UK planning system (TCPA, DCO, Local Plans, NPPF); strong report writing; critical thinker/ problem solver; policy interpretation; research and evidence assessment; stakeholder engagement; presentation skills; consultation analysis; consultation monitoring and responses; time management and managing multiple workstreams; team collaboration; familiar with key software packages (e.g. strong skills in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, MS Teams, Copilot, etc)

Desirable skills the above but with greater depth/ competency plus basic to intermediate GIS skills; appreciation of development viability, programme and risk considerations and client-focussed thinking; interest in regeneration, policy, and infrastructure

To be considered for a graduate opportunity, your application must include a copy of your academic transcript and meet the following criteria:

• Full working rights in the country of application
• No more than 12 months of full‑time experience in a comparable role
• Recently graduated, or on track to graduate, from your most recent degree, related to your role of choice, before employment starts.

Alongside your degree, we look for the following core attributes;

• Changemakers: A passion for sustainable development and creating a better world is key.
• Innovative minds: We’re looking for critical thinkers who embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo.
• Growth seekers: You have a growth mindset, always eager to learn and explore new ways of working.
• Adaptable adventurers: You’re ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.

You should be able to start this opportunity on 1 September 2027.

Advert Closing Date: 16 October 2026

Please note, in the event of high applicant volume, this role may be closed ahead of the advertised closing date. Early application is recommended.

Eligibility

Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Therefore, you must ensure that you are eligible to work permanently in the UK without our sponsorship.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together.

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling permanent members to share in the results of our collective efforts.

We take an approach to flexible working that supports the diversity and wellbeing of our graduates.

We also provide for our permanent members Private medical insurance, Life assurance, Accident insurance and Income protection cover. In addition, you’ll have access to flexible benefits to help you look after all aspects of your wellbeing and give you the freedom and flexibility to find the best solutions for you, your family, and your individual needs.

Next Steps

We've designed our application process to be straightforward and supportive, giving you the opportunity to showcase your skills and potential. Applications are reviewed as they're received, so we encourage you to apply as early as possible.

The process includes an online application, psychometric testing, application review, case study, interview and offer stage. Our friendly Early Careers team is available throughout the process to answer questions and help you feel confident every step of the way.