Town Planner

Penguin Recruitment; Colchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Penguin Recruitment in Colchester is seeking an experienced Town Planner to join a growing team. You will manage planning applications across residential and development projects, providing commercial, planning advice and coordinating submissions from feasibility to approval.

The role offers exposure to a diverse portfolio, with opportunities to take ownership of projects and progress within a supportive, collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in planning within a consultancy, property/development business or local authority environment.
• Strong knowledge of the UK planning system and relevant policy.
• Experience preparing and/or managing planning applications.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing and progressing planning applications across a range of development projects.
• Undertaking planning appraisals and assessing the development potential of sites.
• Providing planning advice to internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Preparing and coordinating planning submissions, reports and supporting documentation.
• Liaising with local planning authorities, consultants, landowners and other key stakeholders.
• Monitoring planning policy, legislation and local authority requirements.
• Supporting the identification and acquisition of new development opportunities.
• Attending planning meetings and representing the business where required.
• Managing external planning consultants and specialist advisers.
• Providing clear, commercially focused planning advice to support the wider property and development strategy.

Skills

Planning experience

Stakeholder management

Project management

UK planning system knowledge

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Town Planning degree

Job description

Town Planner

Location: Colchester, Essex

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

We are working with a highly regarded and growing property business based in Colchester who are looking to appoint an experienced Town Planner to join their expanding team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a planner looking to take the next step in their career and gain exposure to a diverse portfolio of residential and strategic development projects. You will play an important role in supporting the planning and delivery of development opportunities from initial feasibility through to planning approval.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative, commercially focused environment where there is genuine scope to develop professionally and take ownership of projects.

The Role

As Town Planner, your responsibilities will include:

• Managing and progressing planning applications across a range of development projects.
• Undertaking planning appraisals and assessing the development potential of sites.
• Providing planning advice to internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Preparing and coordinating planning submissions, reports and supporting documentation.
• Liaising with local planning authorities, consultants, landowners and other key stakeholders.
• Monitoring planning policy, legislation and local authority requirements.
• Supporting the identification and acquisition of new development opportunities.
• Attending planning meetings and representing the business where required.
• Managing external planning consultants and specialist advisers.
• Providing clear, commercially focused planning advice to support the wider property and development strategy.

About You

We are keen to hear from candidates with experience within a planning consultancy, property/development business or local authority environment.

Ideally, you will have:

• A degree or postgraduate qualification in Town Planning or a related discipline.
• Previous experience in a planning role, ideally within residential or property development.
• Strong knowledge of the UK planning system and relevant planning policy.
• Experience preparing and/or managing planning applications.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to understand the wider development context.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• A proactive, pragmatic and solutions-focused approach.RTPI membership or working towards chartership would be advantageous, but is not essential.

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a successful property business where you will have the opportunity to work on interesting development projects, build strong industry relationships and make a tangible contribution to the growth of the business.

If you are a planner looking for a role that offers responsibility, variety and genuine career progression, we'd be keen to hear from you.