Technical Director Town Planning (Infrastructure Planning)

WSP in the UK & Ireland; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in the UK & Ireland is seeking an experienced Senior Consultant to support town planning and consenting inputs for major infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will lead on complex negotiations and manage consent applications while mentoring colleagues.

This role requires demonstrable experience within multi-disciplinary teams, strong technical leadership, and a degree-level qualification in town planning or equivalent, with membership of the RTPI. Join WSP to contribute to sustainable growth in the infrastructure sector.

Qualifications

• Experience leading consenting inputs on major projects.
• Strong technical leadership and advice to clients.
• Experience with consent applications under various planning regimes.

Responsibilities

• Lead consenting inputs on major projects.
• Provide advice to clients on consenting requirements.
• Co-ordinate preparation of consent applications.

Skills

Technical leadership

Negotiation with statutory bodies

Project management experience

Mentoring colleagues

Education

Degree-level qualification in town planning (or equivalent)

Membership of the RTPI

Job description

Job Description

WSP is an award‑winning consultancy that employs the largest number of chartered town planners across the UK, operating within both the infrastructure and property markets. In December 2025, WSP won the RTPI’s Planning Consultancy of the Year with judges commending the team for their excellence in uniting diverse disciplines to achieve outstanding results, praising the team’s strong community engagement.

It has never been a more exciting time to join WSP’s market‑leading Infrastructure Planning Team. Our success is built on employing highly skilled consenting specialists that have experience in serving a diverse portfolio of clients in the energy, renewables, nuclear, net‑zero, water, rail and aviation sectors. We work at all stages of the consenting process from early feasibility, application preparation and delivery of consents through construction and on a variety of projects across sectors.

With notable contract and framework awards from National Grid as part of the Great Grid Partnership as well as awards from many other clients, we have a great foundation for growth in 2026.

Our key clients include National Grid as part of the Great Grid Partnership, National Gas as part of Project Union, Nuclear Waste Services, EET Fuels, Eni UK, SSE, Scottish Power Renewables, Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, and many more.

To continue to sustainably grow as a business, we are looking for an experienced Senior Consultant to join our team to support town planning and consenting inputs on major and nationally significant infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of working within multi‑disciplinary teams to secure consent and approvals for major or nationally significant infrastructure projects via the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Planning Act 2008 and the Transport and Works Act Order. We are also interested in people who have experience securing consents for major projects by means of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, or the Electricity Act.

What We Will Be Looking For You To Demonstrate

• Leading consenting inputs on major projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs, etc.).
• Providing strong technical leadership and advice to clients and managing their consenting requirements.
• Co‑ordinating the preparation and submission of consent applications which may include applications under the Town and Country Planning Acts, the Planning Act 2008 or other regimes.
• Acting as Project Director for projects led and managed by the Infrastructure Planning business.
• Leading on complex negotiations with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients.
• Acting as Planning Expert Witness at DCO examinations or other hearings or inquiries.
• Supporting and pursuing new work‑winning opportunities in line with WSP’s Growth Strategy.
• Strong understanding of project finances and demonstrable project‑management experience within a consultancy environment.
• Line management / mentoring colleagues by supporting them in their work project delivery roles.
• Degree‑level qualification in town planning (or equivalent).
• Member of the RTPI.