Senior Town Planner

Penguin Recruitment Ltd; Morley; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment Ltd in Leeds is seeking an experienced Senior Town Planner to join its growing planning team. You will manage a diverse portfolio of applications, provide strategic advice, and help clients unlock development potential.

This role offers autonomy, a collaborative environment and clear opportunities for career progression. Working with clients, local authorities and consultants, you will shape planning strategies, prepare applications and appeals, and contribute to delivering

Qualifications

• Chartered RTPI membership.
• Experience in a planning consultancy or similar professional planning environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of the UK planning system, policy and development management.
• Experience managing planning applications and advising clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of planning applications across sectors and development types.
• Develop and deliver bespoke planning strategies to unlock opportunities.
• Provide planning advice from inception through to completion.
• Prepare, coordinate and submit planning applications, appeals and supporting docs.
• Build relationships with clients, local authorities, consultants and stakeholders.
• Engage with planning officers and consultees to progress applications efficiently.
• Undertake planning appraisals, site assessments and research.
• Prepare planning statements, reports and recommendations.
• Contribute ideas to shape successful developments and sustainable places.
• Support business development and growth of the consultancy.

Skills

RTPI membership

Experience in planning consultancy

UK planning system knowledge

Written and verbal communication

Proactive, solutions-focused

Organisational skills

Collaborative mindset

Commercial awareness

Career development minded

Education

RTPI chartered membership

Job description

Job Title: Senior Town Planner

Location: Leeds

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a creative, people-focused planning consultancy in its search for a Senior Town Planner to join its growing team in Leeds.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a collaborative consultancy that takes a proactive and innovative approach to planning, helping clients unlock development potential and deliver successful projects. With a strong emphasis on bespoke planning strategies, relationship building and sustainable development, this role offers the chance to make a genuine impact while progressing your career.

The Role

As a Senior Town Planner, you will manage a diverse portfolio of planning projects, guiding applications from initial concepts and strategic advice through to determination and delivery on the ground.

Working closely with clients, local planning authorities, consultant teams and other stakeholders, you will develop creative planning solutions that balance commercial objectives with the needs of local communities.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing a varied caseload of planning applications across different sectors and development types.
• Developing and delivering bespoke planning strategies to unlock development opportunities and achieve positive outcomes for clients.
• Providing clear, commercially aware planning advice from project inception through to completion.
• Preparing, coordinating and submitting planning applications, appeals and supporting documentation.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, local authorities, consultants and other key stakeholders.
• Proactively engaging with planning officers and statutory consultees to progress applications efficiently.
• Undertaking planning appraisals, site assessments and research to identify opportunities and potential constraints.
• Preparing high-quality planning statements, reports and recommendations.
• Contributing ideas, energy and creative thinking to help shape successful developments and sustainable places.
• Supporting business development and contributing to the continued growth and reputation of the consultancy.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:

• Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
• Experience working within a planning consultancy or a similar professional planning environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of the UK planning system, planning policy and development management.
• Experience managing planning applications and advising clients throughout the planning process.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to engage with clients and local authorities.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to identify opportunities and overcome planning challenges.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.
• A collaborative mindset and a genuine interest in building trusted professional relationships.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of how planning advice can support wider development objectives.
• The motivation to develop your career and contribute ideas to a growing consultancy.

What's on Offer?

• The opportunity to join a growing, people-focused planning consultancy.
• A collaborative working environment that encourages creativity and fresh thinking.
• Exposure to a diverse range of planning projects and development opportunities.
• The opportunity to build strong client relationships and take ownership of your projects.
• A supportive team that values professional development and career progression.
• The chance to contribute to sustainable, inclusive and vibrant places.
• A role offering autonomy, responsibility and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Town Planner who wants to move beyond a purely technical role and play an active part in shaping planning strategies, influencing development outcomes and building lasting client relationships.

You will join a team that values collaboration, proactive thinking and delivering results, with the opportunity to grow alongside an ambitious consultancy.