Principal Planner Town Planning (Infrastructure Planning)

WSP; Exeter; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking an experienced Senior Consultant in Town Planning to lead consent work for major UK infrastructure projects from Exeter. You will coordinate DCOs, DNSs and TWAOs, advise clients, and liaise with statutory bodies to deliver complex approvals.

Joining the Infrastructure Planning Team, you will work across disciplines, manage project budgets, and contribute to opportunities and bids while advancing your professional RTPI status.

Qualifications

• Lead preparation of Town & Country Planning Act applications for infrastructure projects across the UK.
• Support and lead on aspects of consenting inputs on major infrastructure projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs etc)
• Providing sound technical advice to clients and support managing their consenting requirements, demonstrating awareness of client's expectations and needs.
• Working and liaising with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients to help deliver projects.
• Lead and engage with teams across a variety of disciplines, providing technical oversight.
• Understands project and team roles and actively supports and contributes to achievement, building positive relationships within the team.
• Proactively engages with developing own knowledge and skills to build ability and team's internal knowledge base.
• Supports work winning opportunities in line with WSP's Growth Strategy, contributing to identifying opportunities and to proposals.
• Awareness of project finances and demonstrates project management experience, ideally within a consultancy environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation of planning applications for infrastructure projects.
• Coordinate consenting inputs for major projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs).
• Provide technical advice to clients and manage consenting requirements.
• Liaise with statutory bodies and stakeholders to deliver projects.
• Provide leadership and oversight across multi-disciplinary teams.

Skills

Town planning

Consenting

Client liaison

Team leadership

Project management

Education

Degree in town planning (or equivalent)

Job description

Job Description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

WSP is an award‑winning consultancy that employs the largest number of chartered town planners across the UK, operating within both the infrastructure and property markets. In December 2025, WSP won the RTPI's Planning Consultancy of the Year with judges commending the team for their excellence in uniting diverse disciplines to achieve outstanding results, praising the team's strong community engagement.

It has never been a more exciting time to join WSP's market‑leading Infrastructure Planning Team. Our success is built on employing highly skilled consenting specialists that have experience in serving a diverse portfolio of clients in the energy, renewables, nuclear, net zero, water, rail and transportation and aviation sectors. We work at all stages of the consenting process from early feasibility, application preparation and delivery of consents through construction and on a variety of projects across sectors.

With notable contract and framework awards from National Grid as part of the Great Grid Partnership as well as awards from many other clients, we have a great foundation for growth in 2026.

Our key clients include National Grid as part of the Great Grid Partnership, National Gas as part of Project Union, Nuclear Waste Services, EET Fuels, Eni UK, SSE, Scottish Power Renewables, Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, and many more.

To continue to sustainably grow as a business, we are looking for an experienced Senior Consultant to join our team to support town planning and consenting inputs on major and nationally significant infrastructure projects. The successful candidates will have demonstrable experience of working within multi‑disciplinary teams to secure consent and approvals for major or nationally significant infrastructure projects via the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning Act 2008 and Transport and Works Act Order. We are also interested to hear from people that have experience in securing consents for major projects by means of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, or the Electricity Act.

To find out more about our Infrastructure Planning business click on the following link and discover what awaits you at WSP: Infrastructure planning and consulting | WSP

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Lead preparation of Town & Country Planning Act applications for infrastructure projects across the UK.
• Support and lead on aspects of consenting inputs on major infrastructure projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs etc)
• Providing sound technical advice to clients and support managing their consenting requirements, demonstrating awareness of client's expectations and needs.
• Working and liaising with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients to help deliver projects.
• Lead and engage with teams across a variety of disciplines, providing technical oversight.
• Understands project and team roles and actively supports and contributes to achievement, building positive relationships within the team.
• Proactively engages with developing own knowledge and skills to build ability and team's internal knowledge base.
• Supports work winning opportunities in line with WSP's Growth Strategy, contributing to identifying opportunities and to proposals.
• Awareness of project finances and demonstrates project management experience, ideally within a consultancy environment.
• Degree level qualification in town planning (or equivalent).
• Member of (or eligible for) the RTPI.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close‑knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can. Apply today.