Senior/Principal Planning Consultant

Matchtech; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is looking for an experienced planning consultant to join their expert team. This role involves providing specialist advice, managing planning applications, and ensuring compliance with UK legislation. You will work closely with a diverse range of clients and stakeholders, from developers to local authorities, while also having the opportunity to lead projects and mentor junior staff. With a positive and sociable working environment, this position offers excellent opportunities for professional development and career progression in a supportive team of planners and heritage professionals. If you're passionate about planning and looking to make an impact, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Supportive team environment

Opportunities for professional development

Positive working atmosphere

Diverse range of clients and projects

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience for Senior Planner, 5 years for Consultant/Principal Consultant.
• Strong knowledge of NPPF and Planning Practice Guidance.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist planning advice ensuring compliance with policies.
• Manage planning applications and appeals, and prepare planning appraisals.
• Liaise with local authorities and negotiate planning matters.

Skills

UK planning legislation knowledge

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Project management

Research skills

Experience in planning consultancy

Education

Degree in Planning or related discipline

Tools

Coretime

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic planning consultant to join us. We are looking for a planner to join us at a level between Senior Planner and Principal Consultant. You will work closely with Directors and all planning colleagues in our two offices, developers, architects, and local authorities to ensure projects align with heritage and planning legislation, national planning policy and best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Maintain membership of the RTPI.
2. Provide specialist planning advice to clients and colleagues, ensuring compliance with planning policies and legislation.
3. Advise clients on planning matters and manage subsequent planning applications and planning appeals.
4. Prepare planning appraisals.
5. Prepare fee estimates for approval by Principal Consultant/ Associate Director/Director.
6. Recommend, instruct and manage other consultants as necessary.
7. Write Planning and Appeal Statements.
8. Give evidence at Hearings.
9. Request assistance from Consultant/Principal Consultant/Associate/Director as required.
10. Attend and lead client/consultant project meetings.
11. Attend and lead meetings with Council Officers.
12. Attend and present at Planning Committees as required.
13. Attend public consultation events as necessary.
14. Research work for others.
15. Oversee work by more junior staff as requested.
16. Proactively assist Associate Directors and Directors with planning and other matters as requested.
17. Liaise with local planning authorities and other stakeholders to negotiate planning matters.
18. Conduct site visits and meetings.
19. Keep up to date with relevant legislation, policy changes, and best practices in planning.
20. Support clients through the planning process, from pre-application advice to post-consent conditions.
21. Work efficiently and effectively, delegating work of an appropriate level of complexity to more junior staff to maximise cost-effectiveness and ensure more junior members of staff expand their experience.
22. Proactively seek and secure new instructions from existing and new clients to the business. This will involve searching out new contacts and sources of work and devising and undertaking strategies to secure new fee-paying work, including delivering CPD to key contacts.
23. Attend networking and other similar events to promote the Company and seek new leads and instructions. Consider initiatives to promote the Company and input to the wider marketing.
24. Create LinkedIn content as requested to celebrate your success and the company's success to promote areas of interest to your role.
25. Maintain accurate Coretime records.
26. Maintain monthly and quarterly Fee Forecasting spreadsheets and quarterly WIP Reports.

Key Skills & Experience:

1. Member of the RTPI.
2. A degree in Planning, or a related discipline.
3. Experience in a planning consultancy, or a similar role (minimum of 2 years for Senior Planner, 5 years for Consultant and Principal Consultant).
4. Experience in writing appeal statements and attending hearings.
5. Strong knowledge of UK planning legislation, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Planning Practice Guidance.
6. Ability to research planning constraints and interpret planning data.
7. Experience of reviewing Local Plan policy and providing sound advice to clients.
8. Experience in preparing planning statements, pre-application advice requests.
9. Experience of preparing local plan representations.
10. Experience in preparing site appraisals.
11. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to clients, stakeholders and local authorities.
12. Strong analytical skills with attention to detail.
13. Ability to manage multiple projects and work collaboratively within a team.

Why Join Us?

1. Join a supportive and expert team of planners and heritage professionals.
2. A positive and sociable working environment.
3. A broad range of clients and projects - both in terms of sectors and geographic areas.
4. Opportunities for professional development and career progression.