Senior Planner – DCO Team

DHA Planning Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

DHA Planning Ltd is seeking a Senior Planner to lead DCO-related work on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects within our Planning team. You will coordinate planning workstreams and collaborate with transport and environmental specialists to deliver consent strategies and robust application documents.

You will mentor junior planners, stay abreast of NSIP policy changes, and contribute to business development across infrastructure sectors.

Qualifications

• MRTPI or near chartered status.
• Experience on at least one DCO through pre-application and/or examination.
• Ability to manage complex, multidisciplinary workstreams with tight programmes.
• Excellent written skills for robust, persuasive documents.
• Comfortable dealing with clients, stakeholders and the public and presenting at hearings.
• Experience in energy, transport, water or waste sectors is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on consenting strategy.
• Coordinate pre-application stages.
• Prepare and coordinate application documents.
• Support clients through examination, including written representations and hearings.
• Liaise with the Planning Inspectorate, local authorities, legal advisers and project team.
• Stay updated on National Policy Statements and NSIP reforms.
• Mentor junior planners and contribute to business development.
• Work on broader Town and Country Planning Act casework.

Skills

MRTPI or near chartered status

DCO experience

Project leadership

Strong written communication

Stakeholder engagement

Public speaking / hearings

Cross-disciplinary teamwork

NSIP policy knowledge

Education

MRTPI (or nearing Chartered Status)

Job description

Our infrastructure workload is growing. We're looking for a Senior Planner with hands‑on experience of the Development Consent Order process to help lead our work on Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

You'll be a key member of our Planning team. You'll co-ordinate the planning workstreams on DCO projects and work closely with our transport and environmental teams. Your work will include:

• Advising clients on consenting strategy
• Managing the pre-application stages
• Preparing and co-ordinating application documents
• Supporting clients through examination, including written representations, responses to the Examining Authority's questions, Statements of Common Ground and appearing at hearings
• Liaising with the Planning Inspectorate, local planning authorities, legal advisers and the wider project team
• Keeping up to date with National Policy Statements and ongoing reforms to the NSIP regime, and advising clients on what they mean in practice
• Mentoring junior planners and helping grow DHA's infrastructure offer, including business development

You'll also have the chance to work on our broader Town and Country Planning Act casework, so your role stays varied.

About you

• MRTPI, or close to achieving chartered status
• Demonstrable experience of at least one DCO through pre-application, examination or both, whether in consultancy, a promoter, a local authority or PINS
• Confident managing complex, multidisciplinary workstreams and tight programmes
• Excellent written skills, with the ability to produce clear, robust and persuasive documents
• Comfortable dealing with clients, stakeholders and the public, and presenting at hearings and consultation events
• Experience in sectors such as energy, transport, water or waste would be an advantage