Principal Planner Town Planning (Infrastructure Planning)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP, a leading consultancy, seeks an experienced Senior Consultant to support town planning and consenting inputs on major and nationally significant infrastructure projects across the UK.

You will prepare and lead applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning Act 2008, Transport and Works Act Order, and related regional acts, while working with multi-disciplinary teams, liaising with statutory bodies and stakeholders, and providing technical oversight.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in town planning or equivalent.
• Experience with Town and Country Planning Act, Planning Act, Transport and Works Act Order, and regional acts.
• Member of (or eligible for) RTPI.

Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of Town & Country Planning Act applications for infrastructure projects across the UK.
• Support and lead on consenting inputs for major infrastructure projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs etc).
• Provide sound technical advice to clients and support managing their consenting requirements.
• Liaise with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients.
• Lead and engage with cross-disciplinary teams, providing technical oversight.
• Proactively develop own knowledge and skills to build internal knowledge base.
• Support business development opportunities in line with WSP’s Growth Strategy.
• Understand project finances and demonstrate project management experience, ideally within a consultancy environment.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder liaison

Technical oversight

Education

Degree level qualification in town planning or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

WSP, a leading consultancy, seeks an experienced Senior Consultant to support town planning and consenting inputs on major and nationally significant infrastructure projects. The role involves preparing and leading applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning Act 2008, Transport and Works Act Order, and relevant regional acts. The successful candidate will work within multi‑disciplinary teams, liaise with statutory bodies and stakeholders, and provide technical oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead preparation of Town & Country Planning Act applications for infrastructure projects across the UK.
• Support and lead on consenting inputs for major infrastructure projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs etc).
• Provide sound technical advice to clients and support managing their consenting requirements.
• Liaise with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients.
• Lead and engage with cross‑disciplinary teams, providing technical oversight.
• Proactively develop own knowledge and skills to build internal knowledge base.
• Support business development opportunities in line with WSP’s Growth Strategy.
• Understand project finances and demonstrate project management experience, ideally within a consultancy environment.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree level qualification in town planning or equivalent.
• Experience working with the Town and Country Planning Act, Planning Act, Transport and Works Act Order, and where applicable, regional acts such as Planning (Wales) Act 2015, Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, or the Electricity Act.
• Member of (or eligible for) the RTPI.

Why WSP

Join a global team of over 69,000 employees, working on landmark projects across energy, renewables, nuclear, water, rail, and transportation sectors. Be part of a culture that embraces curiosity, diversity, and new ideas.