Spatial Planner

National Highways; Bedford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

National Highways is seeking a Spatial Planner for the East region, responsible for ensuring new developments are well planned to manage transportation demands. This role involves working with local authorities and stakeholders, assessing planning applications, and contributing to infrastructure development strategies. Candidates must demonstrate strong stakeholder management skills, an understanding of spatial planning legislation, and relevant planning qualifications. This is an exciting opportunity to impact the planning system and highway management.

Qualifications

• Experience and understanding of spatial planning and associated legislation.
• Practical understanding of infrastructure development programmes.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder interactions effectively.

Responsibilities

• Cooperate with local authorities and stakeholders in developing plans.
• Evaluate complex planning applications and ensure safe operation of transport networks.
• Attend local planning meetings and provide expert advice.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Spatial Planning

Legislation Knowledge

Education

Qualified Town Planner or Transport Planner

Job description

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National Highways have an exciting opportunity for a Spatial Planner to join our team in the East region. The Spatial Planner will play an active and responsive role in the planning system by taking a proactive approach, helping to ensure that new developments are well located and planned for, and the travel demands they create are also managed and sustainable for the strategic road network. The Spatial Planner will also work with local partners to understand and address the transport impact of spatial planning aspirations and with developers to identify what works are necessary on the network to mitigate the transport impact created.

What you’ll be leading on

• Cooperating with Local Planning Authorities and relevant stakeholders in the development of local plans and strategic growth plans.
• Discharge our statutory responsibilities within the planning process, including the commissioning of specialist consultant support where necessary.
• Apply specialist knowledge to evaluate the potential impact and implications of the more complex planning applications on the Strategic Road Network to enable a measured, robust and informed response to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the SRN is maintained.
• Manage ongoing liaison with key external stakeholders, through attendance at local planning meetings and other planning or discussion forums, providing evidence-based and transparent guidance and advice on future local plans, as well as sharing information of Highways England’s emerging strategies and future development works for the region.
• Attend and represent the Region at public examinations, appeals and public inquiries. Work closely with internal and external partners to identify and secure funding opportunities for improvements to the network in support of economic growth . through developer contributions or the Growth and Housing fund.

To be successful

• Demonstrable experience and understanding of spatial planning and associated legislation including development management
• Proven practical understanding of the complex requirements of infrastructure development programmes and the prioritisation of needs in order to develop, manage and maintain a safe and efficient world-class asset
• Qualified Town Planner or Transport Planner, or equivalent professional experience (Chartership or willing to work towards is desirable)
• Experience of working with local planning and highway authorities, local enterprise partnerships within a political landscape supported by evidence of working successfully with a wide range of officials within such external stakeholder organisations
• Excellent stakeholder management, both internally and externally

A bit about us

Making sure our customers have safe and reliable journeys is at the heart of everything we do in Operations. We keep the roads open for business and play a key role in making sure the network we manage is fit for purpose today and for the future.

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Created on 17/06/2025 by TN United Kingdom