Principal Planner

Penguin Recruitment; England; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading planning consultancy in Stratford-upon-Avon is seeking a Principal Planner to lead projects and manage client relationships. The ideal candidate will have relevant planning qualifications and experience in managing planning applications. This role offers excellent career progression opportunities and a hybrid working environment, fostering teamwork and autonomy.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Private medical insurance

Professional subscriptions payment

Flexible working patterns

Qualifications

• Experience in managing planning applications and appeals.
• Understanding of the planning process and systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects and develop client relationships.
• Manage schemes from design stages to achieving consent.
• Support Planning Appeals and Local Plan Examinations.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Attention to detail

Team-player attitude

Education

Relevant planning qualification

RTPI membership or working towards membership

Job description

Job Title: Principal Planner

Location: Stratford-upon-Avon

About the opportunity

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading planning consultancy in their search for a Principal Planner to join their growing team in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The planning team focuses on strategic planning projects, primarily planning applications and land promotions for residential development. You'll work closely with colleagues across development economics, design, and heritage disciplines.

What’s on offer

• Competitive salary with excellent benefits, including private medical and payment of relevant professional subscriptions.
• A culture built on trust, empowerment, and autonomy over your work.
• Exposure to a variety of projects, including planning applications and land promotions across multiple sites and clients.
• Opportunities to join a growing team within an established, top-20 UK planning consultancy.
• Hybrid working with flexibility to define your working patterns in and out of the office.

About the company

The consultancy has expanded rapidly over the past five years and now boasts a team of 50+ town planners across regional hubs. They also provide complementary socio-economic, heritage, master planning, and architectural services.

The role

As a Principal Planner, you will:

• Lead projects and contribute to the growth of client relationships.
• Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Manage schemes from initial advice and early design stages through to achieving consent and discharging planning conditions.
• Support Planning Appeals and Local Plan Examinations.

Key duties

• Advising on the development potential of land and buildings.
• Preparing planning applications and appeals.
• Providing policy advice and conducting research.
• Drafting representations for plan consultations and examinations.
• Identifying land opportunities.
• Working with clients and other consultants to deliver development.
• Supporting business development activities.

Person specification

• Relevant planning qualification.
• RTPI membership or working towards membership.
• Understanding of the planning process and systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with high attention to detail.
• Friendly, approachable, and collaborative manner.
• Drive, commitment, enthusiasm, and a team-player attitude.

Whether you are an experienced Senior Planner ready to step up and lead major projects or a Principal Planner looking to broaden your expertise, this role offers an excellent opportunity for career progression.

Interested?

The hiring manager is looking to meet with suitable candidates ASAP so if you meet the above criteria, please contact Josh Jones on (phone number removed) or (url removed)