Principal Planner

Osborne Richardson; Weston-super-Mare; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Somerset Local Authority seeks a Principal Town Planner to lead a strategic allocation project and coordinate a multi-disciplinary team through major planning applications. You will advise, negotiate with developers, and present to the Planning Committee about the merits and implications of developments.

The role requires extensive local authority experience, a degree-level qualification, and professional accreditation where possible.

Qualifications

• Significant town planning experience in a local authority context.
• Formal qualifications: degree level and ideally professional accreditation.
• Proven negotiation skills with developers and senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead on a series of planning applications including strategic allocation for 3,200 homes.
• Coordinate a multi-disciplinary team and prepare reports for Planning Committee.
• Present applications and recommendations to committees; guide proposals through the process.

Skills

Town planning

Local authority

Stakeholder negotiation

Education

Degree in Town Planning

Job description

Our client requires a Principle Town Planner to join their Strategic Development Team and lead on a series of planning applications relating to the strategic allocation, co-ordinating a multi-disciplinary team, making recommendations and presenting applications to Planning Committee. Your main focus will be a Strategic Allocation for 3,200 homes, as well as other case work.

The Team are responsible for guiding proposals through the development process including examining, processing and evaluating major planning and related applications including pre-and post-application advice, site inspections, negotiations, preparation and presentation of reports to a range of audiences.

To apply for this role you will need a significant amount of town planning work experience gained within a local authority context. A detailed knowledge of the statutory and policy framework within which planning decisions are made is absolutely essential as are formal qualifications; minimum to degree level and ideally with professional accreditation.

Proven experience of negotiating on high level developments with developers as well as communicate fluently and coherently with lead members and senior management on the merits and implications of developments must be clearly demonstrated on your CV.

This contract will initially run until late April 2027 and offers 37hrs per week.

Our client is a Local Authority in Somerset and the rate offered will depend on your experience, but is expected to be circa £55 /hr Umbrella. This role is inside IR35.

Our client offers a hybrid working arrangement which is predominantly home working but on site and in person meetings may be required from time to time.

Please get in touch for further information.