Planning Manager

Caravan and Motorhome Club; East Grinstead; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Caravan and Motorhome Club in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced Planning Adviser to guide development opportunities and use changes across club sites. You will work with internal teams and external consultants to secure planning permissions and manage complex planning projects.

Applicants should hold an accredited Town Planning degree, MRTPI with at least four years PQE, and demonstrate strong negotiation, analytical and reporting skills.

Qualifications

• An accredited degree in Town Planning or similar discipline.
• Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) with a minimum of four years’ PQE, ideally in a planning advisory role.
• Proven experience of preparing and successfully securing planning consents for significant development schemes.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to build sustainable internal and external relationships.
• Ability to work in an inclusive and collaborative manner, with drive to succeed and solve issues.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness; ability to instruct external professionals.
• Good analytical skills and quick grasp of new concepts; strong written and verbal communication.
• Excellent report writing; well-developed IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic planning advice to internal customers on development opportunities.
• Prepare pre-application consultation briefs to LPAs.
• Attend pre-application consultation meetings with planning officers and colleagues.
• Prepare planning appraisals, statements and applications for site related developments and changes of use.
• Select, instruct and manage external advisers on a project-by-project basis.
• Prepare objections to proposals affecting the Club’s sites.
• Attend Planning Committee meetings as required.
• The day-to-day management of planning projects and liaison with internal and external disciplines and LPAs.

Skills

Town Planning

Biodiversity Net Gain

Strategic Planning

Pre-application Briefs

Planning Appraisals

Stakeholder Management

Liaison with LPAs

IT Skills

Education

Accredited Town Planning degree

MRTPI membership

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Google Workspace

Job description

• A strong working knowledge of the Town and Country Planning system.
• A good working knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain and the implications for individual planning applications.
• To provide strategic planning advice to internal customers relating to development and redevelopment opportunities, change of use opportunities and alternative use opportunities.
• To prepare pre-application consultation briefs to LPAs.
• Attendance at pre-application consultation meetings with planning officers and internal colleagues.
• Attendance at site and review meetings.
• Preparation and submission of planning appraisals, statements and applications for site related developments, changes of use and Certificates of Lawfulness, working closely with the Development Managers.
• Selection, instruction and management of external professional advisers including planning, heritage, ecology, highways, flood risk and other specialist consultants as required on a project by project basis.
• Preparation of objections to proposals on neighbouring properties that negatively impact the Club’s sites.
• Occasional attendance at Planning Committee meetings.
• The day to day management of planning projects including liaising with other in-house / external disciplines and LPAs to ensure swift, positive outcomes.
• Monitor Local Plans in locations where the club has a site to assess the impact on the Club's sites and make representations in the Club's best interests as appropriate.

Key Tasks/Accountabilities

• A strong working knowledge of the Town and Country Planning system.
• A good working knowledge of Biodiversity Net Gain and the implications for individual planning applications.
• To provide strategic planning advice to internal customers relating to development and redevelopment opportunities, change of use opportunities and alternative use opportunities.
• To prepare pre-application consultation briefs to LPAs.
• Attendance at pre-application consultation meetings with planning officers and internal colleagues.
• Attendance at site and review meetings.
• Preparation and submission of planning appraisals, statements and applications for site related developments, changes of use and Certificates of Lawfulness, working closely with the Development Managers.
• Selection, instruction and management of external professional advisers including planning, heritage, ecology, highways, flood risk and other specialist consultants as required on a project by project basis.
• Preparation of objections to proposals on neighbouring properties that negatively impact the Club’s sites.
• Occasional attendance at Planning Committee meetings.
• The day to day management of planning projects including liaising with other in-house / external disciplines and LPAs to ensure swift, positive outcomes.
• Monitor Local Plans in locations where the club has a site to assess the impact on the Club's sites and make representations in the Club's best interests as appropriate.

Essential Skills & Experience Required

• An accredited degree in Town Planning or similar discipline.
• Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) with a minimum of four years’ PQE, ideally in a planning advisory role (whether in-house, LPA or consultancy).
• Proven experience of preparing and successfully securing planning consents for significant development schemes.
• Strong negotiation skills alongside the ability to build and foster strong, sustainable internal and external relationships, demonstrating a positive and approachable disposition with the ability to build rapport.
• The ability and desire to work in an inclusive and collaborative manner.
• Possess the drive to succeed and to be able to solve complex issues.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness.
• The ability to instruct and manage external professionals.
• Good analytical skills and the ability to grasp new concepts quickly.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Well-developed IT skills (including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides).

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is committed to employing a diverse workforce. All applications are treated equally and we recruit purely on the basis of skills and experience. We know our greatest strength is our people, so differences are celebrated, and we strive to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential.