Town Planner - Industrial Infrastructure

NMS Recruit Ltd t/a Russell Taylor Group; Ellesmere Port; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% employer pension contribution

25 days' annual leave

Private medical insurance

Flexible benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounts

Free secure on-site parking

Job summary

Russell Taylor Group is seeking a Town Planner to shape major UK industrial, energy, and infrastructure projects from Ellesmere Port. You will secure planning permissions for a portfolio including low-carbon hydrogen and carbon capture, working within a Regulatory Planning team on site.

The role offers progression from mid-level to Senior/Principal, with opportunities to deputise for the Regulatory Planning Manager and lead significant planning workstreams across TCPA, DCO/NSIP, and site

Qualifications

• Degree in Town Planning or related discipline.
• Experience leading complex planning applications and securing consents.
• Strong knowledge of TCPA, NPPF and relevant planning policies.
• Understanding Environmental Impact Assessment requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning applications and consenting strategies for major developments.
• Support TCPA, DCO/NSIP processes where required.
• Coordinate EIAs and technical submissions.
• Identify planning risks and interpret legislation to develop practical solutions.
• Manage external consultants, advisers, and budgets.

Skills

Town Planning

Regulatory Planning

Stakeholder Management

Project Management

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related field

Job description

Town Planner - Major Industrial Infrastructure & Energy Projects

Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Salary: £65,000-£80,000 + excellent benefits

An opportunity to shape major UK infrastructure projects

Are you a Town Planner with experience of major industrial, energy or infrastructure projects, looking for an opportunity to take your career to the next level?

We are seeking a talented planning professional to join an established Regulatory Planning team within a major industrial organisation investing billions of pounds in the transformation of one of the UK's most significant energy and manufacturing sites.

Based in Ellesmere Port, you will play a key role in securing planning permissions and consents for an ambitious portfolio of major developments, including low-carbon hydrogen production, carbon capture, sustainable aviation fuels and next-generation energy infrastructure.

This is an excellent opportunity to move client-side, take ownership of significant planning workstreams and contribute directly to projects supporting the UK's industrial decarbonisation ambitions.

The position offers opportunities for Town Planners at mid-level through to Senior and Principal level, depending on experience.

The role

Working closely with the Regulatory Planning Manager, project teams, engineering and environmental specialists, external consultants and regulatory stakeholders, you will support and lead planning and consenting activities from early project development through to approval and post-consent delivery.

The portfolio encompasses applications under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA), alongside Development Consent Order (DCO) and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) requirements.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and coordinating planning applications and consenting strategies for major industrial, energy and infrastructure developments.
• Supporting TCPA applications and contributing to DCO/NSIP processes where required.
• Coordinating Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and associated technical submissions.
• Identifying planning risks, interpreting legislation and policy, and developing practical solutions to complex consenting challenges.
• Managing external planning consultants, specialist advisers, deliverables and budgets.
• Building relationships with local authorities, regulators, statutory consultees and community stakeholders.
• Supporting the discharge of planning conditions and ongoing consent requirements.
• Contributing to the site's long-term masterplan and future Local Development Order ambitions.
• Taking ownership of key planning workstreams, with opportunities to deputise for the Regulatory Planning Manager at Senior or Principal level.

About you

You will have experience of complex planning applications and a good understanding of the UK planning system, ideally gained within industrial, energy, infrastructure or brownfield development.

You will ideally have:

• A degree in Town Planning, Urban Planning, Architecture, Environmental Science or a related discipline.
• Experience supporting or leading significant elements of complex planning applications and securing development consents.
• Strong knowledge of the Town and Country Planning Act, National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and relevant planning policies.
• An understanding of Environmental Impact Assessment requirements.
• Excellent project management, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage external consultants.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence engaging with technical teams, regulators and senior stakeholders.

Experience of DCOs and NSIPs would be particularly advantageous, especially at Senior or Principal level. Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), or a commitment to achieving chartership, is desirable.

Above all, you will be proactive, commercially aware and motivated by the challenge of delivering complex industrial infrastructure projects.

What's in it for you?

• Major projects: Work across a multi-billion-pound programme of energy and infrastructure investment.
• Client-side experience: Be directly involved in projects from planning strategy through to delivery.
• Career development: Broaden your experience across complex planning and consenting regimes while taking on greater responsibility.
• Real influence: Help shape the future development of a major UK industrial site and contribute to the transition towards lower-carbon energy.

Benefits include:

• £65,000-£80,000 salary, dependent on experience.
• 10% employer pension contribution.
• 25 days' annual leave, increasing with service.
• Private medical insurance.
• Flexible benefits, including holiday purchase.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to discounts.
• Free secure on-site parking.

Important Information

We endeavour to process your personal data in a fair and transparent manner. In applying for this role, Russell Taylor will be acting within your interest and will contact you in relation to the role, either by email, phone or text message. For more information see our on our website. It is important you are aware of your individual rights and the provisions the company has put in place to protect your data. If you would like further information on the policy or GDPR please get in touch with us