Associate Town Planner

Overview

In this role you drive strategic site promotion and planning strategy for residential-led developments within a collaborative, employee-owned practice. You will lead complex schemes from promotion through consent, working with clients and multidisciplinary teams to deliver sustainable, growth-focused projects. The position blends leadership, business development and technical planning expertise to shape major developments and support the planning practice’s expansion. You’ll join an award-winning firm that values initiative, client relationships and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Pay / Benefits

• 100% employee-owned
• collaborative culture
• multidisciplinary environment
• professional development and leadership opportunities
• varied portfolio across locations
• supportive, innovative culture

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic site promotion, allocation strategies and planning applications
• Manage major, complex and multi-phase schemes (outline, detailed, reserved matters)
• Perform site appraisals, feasibility studies and planning risk assessments
• Provide expert planning advice on policy, case law and regulatory changes
• Support planning appeals and liaise with Counsel and advisers
• Lead and contribute to Local Plan examinations and strategic plan-making
• Develop post-consent delivery strategies
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage programmes and budgets
• Support bids and business development activities, identifying new client opportunities
• Build relationships with clients, consultants and stakeholders
• Contribute to business planning, service development and team growth
• Mentor junior colleagues and support wider practice leadership

Key requirements

• MRTPI accreditation
• at least 10 years’ experience in the UK planning system
• strong track record in strategic land promotion and securing complex consents
• experience managing major residential-led development schemes and multidisciplinary teams
• sound understanding of planning policy, development management and appeals
• excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• strong commercial awareness, project management and business development interest
• ability to build lasting client relationships and win new work
• collaborative, entrepreneurial and proactive mindset

• collaboration
• client relationship management
• leadership and mentorship
• planning policy
• development management
• strategic plan-making

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