First Recruitment Group
Principal Planner - New Settlements
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Location: Cambridge and Cambourne (expectation to work in the office 1-2 times per week)
Duration: Initially 3 month contract with view to extend
IR35: Inside
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Principal Planner to join a well-established local authority planning team on an initial 3-month contract, with the potential for extension.
This is a high-profile role supporting the delivery of major new settlements and strategic growth projects across the region. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in managing complex planning applications, leading stakeholder engagement, and supporting the delivery of large-scale residential and mixed-use developments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead on the planning and delivery of major strategic growth projects and new settlements.
- Manage a varied caseload of complex planning applications and pre-application enquiries.
- Project manage applications associated with large-scale residential and mixed-use developments.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams and key stakeholders to achieve project objectives.
- Use Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) to manage projects effectively through all stages of the planning process.
- Work collaboratively with developers, housebuilders, statutory consultees, elected members, and local communities.
- Present reports and recommendations to planning committees, forums, and stakeholder groups.
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Essential Requirements
To be considered for interview, candidates must possess:
- Degree qualification or equivalent.
- Postgraduate qualification (or equivalent) in Town Planning.
- Full UK driving licence and ability to travel as required.
- Minimum of five years' post-qualification experience within a professional planning environment.
- Proven experience managing a range of planning applications and providing pre-application advice on major and complex development proposals.
Required Experience
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Extensive experience dealing with major and complex development proposals, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) developments.
- Proven experience project managing applications relating to strategic growth and large-scale development sites.
- Strong project management skills, including recent experience using Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs).
- Commercial awareness and experience working closely with developers and housebuilders.
- The ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting at committees and public forums.
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About the Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced planning professional with strong project management expertise for this influential role. You will play a lead role in delivering major new settlement projects through a collaborative project team approach, with a strong focus on early engagement during the pre-application process.
The successful candidate will actively manage a varied portfolio of planning applications and contribute to the delivery of sustainable growth and new communities across the region.
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