Planning Lawyer

Vivid Resourcing Ltd; St Albans; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vivid Resourcing Ltd is seeking a Planning Lawyer for a locum assignment in St Albans. The role involves providing expert legal advice on planning matters across the authority’s functions, including planning applications, enforcement and development management.

You will draft and negotiate planning agreements, support appeals and proceedings, and advise committees, officers and other services. The position offers exposure to diverse planning caseloads in a local authority setting.

Qualifications

• Must hold current practising certificate in England & Wales.
• Proven experience advising on planning law, ideally for a local authority or public body.
• Strong knowledge of Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and related legislation.
• Experience drafting and negotiating section 106 agreements.
• Ability to manage a caseload independently and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to planning officers, committees and other council services on planning law and procedure.
• Advise on legal aspects of planning applications, including reports to committee and decision-making processes.
• Draft, negotiate and complete section 106 agreements and other planning obligations.
• Advise on planning enforcement, including notices, injunctions and prosecutions where required.
• Support the authority in planning appeals, including hearings and inquiries, and instruct counsel where needed.
• Advise on Community Infrastructure Levy and related matters.
• Provide guidance on judicial review risk and respond to pre-action correspondence.
• Advise on local plan matters, planning policy and related legal considerations.
• Keep up to date with changes in planning legislation, case law and national policy.
• Maintain accurate file records and comply with governance and confidentiality requirements.

Skills

Planning law

Right to practise in England and Wales

Public sector experience

Section 106 drafting

Education

Solicitor/Barrister/CILEx qualified

Job description

Location: St Albans
Contract: Locum

About the role

Our client is looking for a Planning Lawyer to join their legal team on a locum basis, providing legal advice and support on planning matters across the authority’s functions.

The successful candidate will advise planning officers, committees and other council services on planning law and procedure, covering the legal aspects of applications, enforcement and development management. The role is also expected to include drafting and negotiating planning agreements and supporting the authority in appeals and other proceedings.

This is a position for a planning lawyer who is comfortable giving clear, practical advice in a public sector setting and working with officers and elected members. It offers the chance to work on a varied caseload within a local planning authority and to contribute to decisions that shape development in the district.

Main responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to planning officers, committees and other council services on planning law and procedure
• Advise on the legal aspects of planning applications, including reports to committee and decision-making processes
• Draft, negotiate and complete section 106 agreements and other planning obligations
• Advise on planning enforcement, including notices, injunctions and prosecutions where required
• Support the authority in planning appeals, including hearings and inquiries, and instruct counsel where needed
• Advise on Community Infrastructure Levy and related matters
• Provide guidance on judicial review risk and respond to pre-action correspondence
• Advise on local plan matters, planning policy and related legal considerations
• Keep up to date with changes in planning legislation, case law and national policy
• Maintain accurate file records and comply with the authority’s governance and confidentiality requirements

Requirements

Essential

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive, with a current right to practise in England and Wales
• Proven experience advising on planning law, ideally within a local authority or a firm acting for public bodies
• Strong working knowledge of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and associated legislation
• Experience drafting and negotiating section 106 agreements
• Ability to manage a caseload independently and work to deadlinesClear written and verbal communication skills

Desirable

• Previous experience working within a local authority legal team
• Experience of planning appeals and enforcement action
• Experience advising planning committees
• Knowledge of CIL, biodiversity net gain and related requirements
• Experience of judicial review claims

The offer

This is a locum role based in St Albans. Rate, contract duration, start date and working pattern are to be confirmed with candidates. Further detail on the team and the scope of the role will be shared with shortlisted applicants.