Senior Town Planner (Planning Consultancy)

WSP; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy is seeking a Senior or Principal Planner in Birmingham. The candidate will devise planning strategies, prepare briefs, draft planning statements, and manage projects in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Ideal candidates will possess degree-level qualifications in town planning, relevant postgraduate qualifications, and chartered status (MRTPI / NIPA). Strong communication and organizational skills are essential, along with demonstrable UK planning experience.

Qualifications

• Experience in local authority or private sector planning.
• Demonstrable confidence and initiative in project management.
• Experience with planning applications and policy frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Devise planning strategies and assess sites' planning history.
• Prepare briefing notes for planning permission likelihood.
• Draft clear planning statements to support proposals.
• Lead planning aspects in multidisciplinary teams.
• Manage project delivery and budget control.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Critical thinking

Technical planning skills

Organizational skills

Education

Degree in town planning

Postgraduate qualification in relevant subject

Chartered status (MRTPI / NIPA)

Job description

What if you could do the kind of work the world needs?

At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you.

The Planning Consultancy team in Central Birmingham specialise in providing commercial planning advice to a wide-range of private and public sector clients. It is an established front end development team which advises on development proposals throughout all stages of the planning process from feasibility, plan promotion, application, EIA and appeal. Our projects range from complex city centre regeneration sites, tall buildings, high density housing, strategic housing promotion, repurposing town centres, retail development, sports and leisure, logistics and major business parks, through to detailed listed building reuse. We act for developers, land owners, home builders, registered providers, financial institutions, strategic promoters, retailers and operators. We are proud to be involved in leading some of the region’s largest and most high‑profile schemes.

We are looking to recruit enthusiastic team players with a can‑do attitude. Candidates will have some private sector consultancy or local authority experience, a proven ability to deliver to a high standard, strong communication skills, passion to share their knowledge and a desire to learn and contribute to the on‑going success of our team.

You will be a Senior or Principal Planner with a good knowledge and experience of the planning process including planning applications, permitted development, policy frameworks, plan promotion and the appeal process. You will be well‑versed in using critical thinking to prepare planning appraisals and strategies, the preparation of all planning documentation for developments, the associated negotiations with planning authorities and stakeholders.

We’re looking for Principal Planners with demonstrable experience, with the confidence and initiative to run projects themselves, but also work within a team on large scale projects. Ideally, you already have private sector experience, but this is not a pre‑requisite.

As one of the world’s leading engineering, professional services and technical consultancy firms, at WSP, we’re passionate about the big questions. And big answers, naturally. For us that’s all about reaching beyond the expected, to do work that’ll make a profound impact felt long into the future.

A little more about your role…

• Devising planning strategies, assessing site’s planning history and relevant planning policies contained within a development plan; as well as national planning policy and guidance.
• Preparing briefing notes that set out the likelihood of achieving planning permission for housing or employment uses.
• Drafting planning statements in a clear and persuasive way, to support development proposals.
• Leading planning aspects in multidisciplinary teams delivering planning projects.
• Attending site visits, design team and client meetings.
• Managing project delivery and budgetary control.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues from across WSP, for example in the Transport or Sustainability Teams, to ensure their advice is factored into the combined advice provided to clients by WSP.
• Monitoring planning applications and liaising with clients and teams to respond to consultation feedback.

What we will be looking for you to demonstrate…

• Degree level qualification in town planning.
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject.
• Chartered status (MRTPI / NIPA).
• Sound knowledge and experience of the UK planning system, gained in either a local authority or private sector setting.
• Strong technical skills
• A commercial approach to planning consultancy and development.
• A desire to work in a growing planning team, surrounded and supported by a raft of fellow professionals.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.

Imagine a better future for you and a better future for us all.

Join our close‑knit community of talented individuals who share your passion for making a positive impact. Our global team includes more than 69,000 employees, working together to make a difference in communities both close to home and around the world.

With us, you can.Apply today.

#L1-JC2