Planning Consultant

Neo Environmental Ltd; Ballymena; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

CIEEM membership

Hybrid working

Job summary

Origin Enterprises in Ballymena is seeking a Planning Consultant to join our expanding planning team. The successful candidate will manage their own caseload, deliver site appraisals, planning statements and related documents, and liaise with clients and in-house specialists.

You should have at least 2 years post-graduate planning experience, be RTPI accredited or working towards it, and possess strong report writing and organisational skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years post-graduation planning experience.
• Chartered or working towards RTPI membership.
• Excellent working knowledge of the UK Planning system, particularly Northern Ireland.
• Demonstrable experience of the successful delivery and management of minor and/or major planning applications.
• Attention to detail, reliability, and good organisational skills to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Management of own planning caseload.
• Delivery of Site Appraisals, Planning Statements, EIA Screenings, Design and Access Statements, etc.
• Planning policy examination, feasibility and constraints analysis.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Management.
• Co-ordinating in-house consultants and liaising with clients.
• Organising and conducting site visits, team meetings and scheduling work.
• Sub-contractor management.
• Preparing, submitting and monitoring of planning applications.
• Fee Proposal production.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Report writing

Organisation

Education

RTPI accreditation

Job description

At Origin Enterprises, we are dedicated to championing sustainable land use, and our Environmental teams support a diverse range of clients and projects—from land management and development to restoration and conservation.

Joining us means becoming part of a collaborative, purpose driven community where this collective expertise enables us to deliver high quality, fully integrated solutions and contribute to meaningful environmental outcomes across the UK and Ireland.

About Neo

Neo Environmental is a multidisciplinary consultancy that provides market leading, cost-effective planning, environmental and technical solutions to clients working in the energy, residential, retail, utilities, mixed-use, aggregates and infrastructure sectors across the UK and Ireland.

We work closely with our clients throughout the duration of projects to ensure that we have a thorough understanding of their requirements and to achieve optimum designs.

Our team consists of experienced and accredited planners, engineers and multi-disciplinary environmental consultants, ensuring we provide a full suite of in-house collaborative services for projects.

We have an enviable track record for successfully consenting projects, whether small or complex, through our comprehensive understanding of planning requirements, particularly in the renewable energy industry.

The role will include:

Neo Environmental have an exciting opportunity for a Planning Consultant to join our expanding planning team. The position will offer the right individual the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, managing their own caseload and clients. The successful candidate will ideally have relevant experience in the renewables sector.

Prospective candidates will be expected to have excellent report writing skills and be well organised with meticulous attention to detail.

The successful candidate should preferably be RTPI accredited or working towards accreditation and have a minimum of 2 years post-graduate planning experience, preferably in a consultancy environment. This role is based in Ballymena with hybrid working arrangements available.

Your primary responsibilities would be:

• Management of own planning caseload;
• Delivery of Site Appraisals, Planning Statements, EIA Screenings, Design and Access Statements, etc;
• Planning policy examination, feasibility and constraints analysis;
• Stakeholder Engagement and Management;
• Co-ordinating in-house consultants and liaising with clients;
• Organising and conducting site visits, team meetings and scheduling work;
• Sub-contractor management;
• Preparing. submitting and monitoring of planning applications;
• Fee Proposal production.

Key Requirements:

• A minimum of 2 years post-graduation professional planning experience;
• Chartered or working towards membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI);
• Excellent working knowledge of the UK Planning system, particularly Northern Ireland;
• Demonstrable experience of the successful delivery and management of minor and/or major planning applications;
• The successful candidate will be required to produce reports for clients and so attention to detail, reliability, and good organisational skills to meet strict deadlines are essential;
• Ability to project manage multi-disciplinary teams and multiple projects simultaneously.

Additional Beneficial Experience:

• Knowledge of the Irish Planning System would be advantageous but not essential;
• Renewable energy experience.

Why work for us?

We offer a competitive and supportive rewards package designed to help you thrive both professionally and personally. We’re committed to continuous development, offering a blend of internal and external training opportunities to help you grow your skills and advance your career.

• Life Assurance
• access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• paid professional memberships such as CIEEM
• continuous development, offering a blend of internal and external training opportunities to help you grow your skills and advance your career

As part of our inclusive culture, you’ll have the opportunity to join our monthly Neurodiversity Café, take part in community action days, and benefit from our family friendly policies, including enhanced family leave options. While we value time spent together in our offices to collaborate and stay connected, most roles offer hybrid working and open conversations around flexibility.

• monthly Neurodiversity Café
• community action days
• family friendly policies, including enhanced family leave options

You’ll also enjoy 25 days’ holiday, regular performance and development reviews, and the chance to collaborate across the wider Origin Group, especially within our growing family of Environmental businesses.

• 25 days’ holiday
• regular performance and development reviews
• the chance to collaborate across the wider Origin Group, especially within our growing family of Environmental businesses

We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds and are proud to be building a diverse, inclusive team where everyone can grow, contribute and feel valued.

Visit our website to learn more — and grow with us.