
Principal Land Use Planner
- England
- Permanent
- Full-time
- The main role will be to support the engagement and consents team as we prepare the Development Consents Orders (DCO) for nationally significant infrastructure projects. That involves supporting statutory and non-statutory consultations, responding to planning related queries, understanding national and local planning policy and derisking the DCO, ensuring alignment with separate workstreams such as design and sustainability.
- Assist with the production of planning consents, planning applications and pre-applications, understanding what can be done under permitted development.
- Supporting bids for major projects and other environmental projects to understand the planning requirements.
- Depending on the projects that the candidate will be involved in, typical duties could include planning and engagement data management, scheme appraisal, sustainability and economic issues, and report writing.
- Work in a high performance, friendly and supportive team environment to produce high quality deliverables.
- Thorough understanding of the DCO process, changes to DCOs, discharge or requirements, and the consenting regime for other major infrastructure projects.
- De-risking projects ensuring the right consents are in place even if planning permission is not needed (for example some stakeholders, may not issue a related consent - i.e, permit for a flood risk activity) unless there is a certificate of lawful development in place or confirmation by the Local Planning Authority that planning permission is not needed.
- Understanding the Permitted Development Rights of statutory undertakers (water companies, the EA, others).
- Understanding of the Town and County Planning Application process, from pre-application to Section 73 variations, discharge of conditions, monitoring and enforcement. Experience preparing planning applications and planning statements.
- Understanding the importance of relevant planning documents: Local Plans, evidence base documents, Neighbourhood plans, Supplementary Planning Documents, validation checklist, conservation area appraisals, etc.
- Understanding the regulatory process for water infrastructure, including linkages with water companies business plans, Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans and Water Resources Management Plans, RAPID. Understanding how planning policies trump or are trumped by other policies.
- Knowledge of technical reports such as: Environmental Impact Assessment, Flood Risk Assessment, Site Waste Management Plans, transport, pollution, Biodiversity Net Gain, Local Impact Reports, Construction Environmental Management Plans, land surveys.
- Stakeholder engagement (knowledge of how stakeholder organisations work and how they link with the DCO and planning application process). Support drafting and reviewing statements of common ground.
- Experience in preparing documentation and representing clients at appeals, hearings, public meetings, examinations in public.
- An ability to analyse and interpret environmental datasets.
- An interest in problem solving.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills including report writing.
- Self-motivated and effective team player.
- Interest in water and environmental matters.
- Technical Leadership in Town Planning and chartership status.
- Excellent team management skills and experience of mentoring others through chartership
- Hold a full UK driving licence.
- Competitive Salary
- Pension
- Private Medical Healthcare
- Life Assurance
- Group Income Protection
- Flexible working