Senior Planner

Penguin Recruitment Ltd; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentoring junior colleagues

Varied NSIP portfolio

Collaborative environment

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment Ltd in London is seeking a Senior Planner to join the DCO Team and lead Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. You will advise clients on consenting strategies, manage pre-application stages, prepare application documents and support submissions through examinations.

The role offers mentorship of junior colleagues, exposure to a varied NSIP portfolio and a collaborative, multidisciplinary working environment within a growing infrastructure planning team.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering Development Consent Order projects (pre-application, examination or both).
• Excellent written communication skills for robust planning documents.
• Ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary workstreams and programmes.

Responsibilities

• Advising clients on consenting strategies for NSIPs.
• Managing pre-application stages of the DCO process.
• Preparing and coordinating application documents and submission requirements.
• Supporting examinations including responses and hearings.
• Liaising with Planning Inspectorate, authorities and project teams.
• Monitoring policy changes and advising on implications.
• Mentoring junior planners and supporting business development.
• Handling a varied portfolio including Town and Country Planning Act work.

Skills

DCO experience

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Education

MRTPI or Chartered status

Job description

Job Title: Senior Planner – Infrastructure Planning Team

Location: London or Kent

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a leading planning consultancy in the search for a Senior Planner – DCO Team to join its growing infrastructure planning team in London.

With an expanding infrastructure workload, this is an excellent opportunity for an experienced planning professional with hands‑on Development Consent Order (DCO) experience to play a key role in delivering Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). You will work alongside multidisciplinary teams, advising clients on consenting strategies and supporting projects through the full DCO process.

This role offers the opportunity to take on greater responsibility, mentor junior colleagues and contribute to the continued growth of an established infrastructure planning service.

The Role

As a Senior Planner – DCO Team, your responsibilities will include:

• Advising clients on consenting strategies for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
• Managing pre-application stages of the Development Consent Order process.
• Preparing and coordinating application documents and supporting submission requirements.
• Supporting clients throughout examination, including written representations, responses to the Examining Authority’s questions, Statements of Common Ground and attendance at hearings.
• Liaising with the Planning Inspectorate, local planning authorities, legal advisers and wider project teams.
• Monitoring changes to National Policy Statements and reforms to the NSIP regime, advising clients on their practical implications.
• Mentoring junior planners and contributing to business development activities.
• Supporting a varied portfolio of projects, including wider Town and Country Planning Act casework.

The Ideal Candidate

To be considered for this Senior Planner – DCO Team position, you will have:

• MRTPI status or be close to achieving chartered status.
• Demonstrable experience of at least one DCO project, covering the pre‑application stage, examination or both.
• Experience gained within a consultancy, infrastructure promoter, local authority or the Planning Inspectorate.
• The ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary workstreams and demanding project programmes.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, robust and persuasive planning documents.
• Confidence engaging with clients, stakeholders and members of the public, including presenting at hearings and consultation events.
• Experience in sectors such as energy, transport, water or waste would be advantageous.

What’s on Offer?

• The opportunity to work on nationally significant infrastructure projects.
• A varied workload spanning DCOs and wider planning applications.
• The chance to take ownership of complex projects and influence consenting strategies.
• Opportunities to mentor junior colleagues and contribute to business growth.
• A collaborative, multidisciplinary working environment.
• A London‑based role within a growing infrastructure planning team.