DCO Senior, Principal or Associate Planner

Overview

In this role you drive planning and consenting workstreams for major infrastructure to help secure essential approvals across water, energy and transport schemes. You will collaborate with clients and multidisciplinary teams to shape deliverable programmes and applications, guiding EIA strategy and development consent processes. You’ll bring structure to complex projects, spot risks early and mentor colleagues while contributing to a collaborative team culture. This is a chance to influence high-impact projects in the UK and grow with a supportive, growth-minded firm.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive salary
• bonus schemes
• enhanced pension plan
• annual leave buy/sell
• private medical insurance
• flexible working

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate planning and consenting workstreams for major infrastructure projects, including NSIPs under the Planning Act 2008
• Provide planning and EIA strategy guidance and manage processes across DCO, TCPA, and DNS regimes
• Progress projects through scheme development, advise on methodologies and conduct assessments
• Collaborate with clients, stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams to shape clear, deliverable programmes and applications
• Introduce structure to complex projects, identify risks early, maintain momentum and deliver quality outcomes
• Support and mentor colleagues, fostering a collaborative team culture and growth

Key requirements

• Experience delivering planning and consenting for major infrastructure (or readiness to step into a lead role)
• Strong technical understanding of DCO and related regimes
• Professional/academic qualification in Planning or Environment (or relevant background)
• Credibility with clients and stakeholders, with confident communication and a solutions-focused mindset
• Professional accreditation (or working towards) such as MRTPI and/or APM, CMI, CEnv or CEng

• confident communication
• client-facing credibility
• solutions-focused mindset
• Development Consent Orders (DCO)
• EIA strategy and assessment
• Planning regimes: DCO, TCPA, DNS

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