Town Planner/Senior Planner

Overview

In this role you will advise on planning strategies, manage a caseload, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team across a range of clients. You’ll develop planning submissions, assess site potential, and engage with authorities to progress decisions. The position offers growth through direct client interaction and opportunities to contribute to sustainable development projects. You’ll work within Bidwells’ collaborative Planning Team to shape development outcomes and support clients from strategy to submission.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive salary and group bonus
• Real Living Wage employer
• up to 8% matched pension
• 28 days holiday (+ bank holidays) and birthday off
• wellbeing day and paid sabbaticals
• private medical cover

Responsibilities

• Provide planning advice and formulate strategies to promote sites
• Manage new job enquiries and prepare fee proposals
• Engage with local planning authorities and stakeholders
• Undertake site assessments to establish development potential
• Prepare high-quality planning submissions and progress applications
• Research and compile robust evidence for planning cases
• Prepare design and access statements and other planning documents
• Represent clients’ commercial interests in the planning process
• Draft written representations and support hearings and inquiries
• Monitor publication timelines for planning documents
• Manage client relationships and identify new business opportunities
• Understand and manage conflicts of interest
• Keep abreast of legislation and guidance; keep systems up-to-date
• Handle other ad hoc town planning or administrative duties

Key requirements

• Town planning or relevant degree
• Chartered Member of RTPI or working towards it
• Some experience in town planning; consultancy or private sector experience advantageous
• Renewables planning, policy planning or development management experience is a bonus
• Excellent report writing, communication and IT skills; attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills; client-focused
• Team player; commercially aware
• Full UK driving licence

• communication
• relationship management
• client-focused mindset
• planning submissions
• planning policy and regulatory knowledge
• design and access statements

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