James & Partners
Town Planner
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Town Planner
Location: Cambridge
Salary: Up to £45,000 depending on experience
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Working Arrangement: Smart / Flexible Working
Qualification: MRTPI qualified or progressing towards Chartered Membership
The Opportunity
An excellent opportunity has arisen for an ambitious and commercially minded Town Planner to join the Cambridge office of my client, a highly regarded and long-established multidisciplinary property and professional services consultancy.
Operating across planning, development, architecture, commercial property, rural property and associated professional disciplines, my client advises an extensive and diverse client base across the UK. The business combines strong technical expertise with an entrepreneurial, client-focused approach and has developed an excellent reputation for providing pragmatic, commercially astute and high-quality professional advice.
This appointment represents an excellent opportunity for a Planner seeking greater exposure to a varied portfolio of interesting development projects whilst working within an established and highly experienced Planning team.
The successful individual will advise across a broad range of residential, commercial, rural, agricultural and mixed-use development matters, supporting projects from their earliest feasibility and appraisal stages through planning applications, stakeholder engagement, negotiation, appeals and ultimately the securing of consent.
Rather than being restricted to one narrow area of planning, you will have the opportunity to develop a genuinely broad consultancy skillset, work closely with clients and other professional disciplines, and take increasing responsibility for your own portfolio of projects.
For an ambitious Planner, there is excellent scope to build your professional profile, strengthen client relationships and progress within a business that places considerable emphasis on long-term career development.
The Role
Working as part of the Cambridge Planning team, you will manage a varied portfolio of planning instructions and provide clear, commercially focused advice to landowners, developers, businesses and private clients.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Preparing detailed planning appraisals and development potential assessments for land, buildings and proposed development opportunities.
- Undertaking planning policy research, site assessments and detailed analysis to identify opportunities, constraints and appropriate planning strategies.
- Preparing, coordinating and submitting pre-application enquiries, planning applications and planning appeals.
- Drafting high-quality Planning Statements, supporting reports and other planning documentation.
- Contributing to the preparation and review of Design & Access Statements, Sustainability Statements and associated technical submissions.
- Advising clients on development potential, planning risk, policy considerations and appropriate routes through the planning system.
- Managing projects through the planning process from initial instruction through to determination and, where appropriate, post-consent matters.
- Liaising and negotiating with local planning authorities, planning officers, statutory consultees, stakeholders and other third parties.
- Coordinating input from architects, surveyors, engineers, environmental consultants and other specialist advisers.
- Attending client meetings, site visits, public consultations, Parish Council meetings and Planning Committees where required.
- Providing clients with clear, practical and commercially considered recommendations.
- Developing innovative planning strategies designed to maximise development potential and achieve successful outcomes.
- Managing multiple instructions simultaneously, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently, professionally and within agreed timescales and budgets.
- Building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with existing clients, consultants and professional contacts.
- Identifying opportunities to develop existing client relationships and contribute to the continued growth of the Planning team.
- Maintaining an excellent working knowledge of national and local planning policy, legislation, emerging guidance and wider market developments.
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The Candidate
My client is seeking an intelligent, articulate and commercially aware planning professional who is capable of providing technically strong advice whilst developing trusted relationships with clients and other stakeholders.
You are likely to have gained experience within a planning consultancy, multidisciplinary property consultancy, local planning authority or comparable planning environment.
Applications are welcomed from candidates who are already Chartered Members of the RTPI as well as suitably experienced individuals who are progressing towards Chartered Membership.
The successful candidate will ideally demonstrate:
- MRTPI qualification, or meaningful progress towards Chartered Membership with relevant practical experience.
- Good knowledge of the UK town and country planning system.
- A strong understanding of development management, planning policy and the planning application process.
- Experience preparing or contributing towards planning applications, appraisals, pre-application submissions and supporting statements.
- The ability to interpret planning policy and technical information and translate this into clear, commercially relevant advice.
- Excellent written communication skills and a high standard of report writing.
- Confident verbal communication and presentation skills.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage several projects and competing deadlines simultaneously.
- A professional and confident manner when dealing with clients, planning authorities and other stakeholders.
- Good commercial awareness and an understanding of the importance of delivering high-quality client service.
- A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Competence with Microsoft Office and relevant planning research systems.
- A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites and meetings where required.
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My client recognises that strong professionals do not always fit an identical profile. Candidates who can demonstrate relevant transferable experience, technical ability and the potential to develop within the position are therefore encouraged to apply.
Why Join?
This is an opportunity to join an established consultancy where Planning forms part of a much broader professional property offering.
The successful candidate will benefit from access to expertise across planning, architecture, development, commercial property, land and rural consultancy, creating opportunities to become involved in multidisciplinary instructions and gain a broader understanding of the development lifecycle.
The position also offers:
- A varied pipeline of planning and development instructions.
- Exposure to projects across multiple property and development sectors.
- Direct client contact and the opportunity to manage projects with increasing autonomy.
- The support of experienced planning and property professionals.
- A collaborative and professional working environment.
- Ongoing training and professional development.
- Support towards continued professional and Chartered development where appropriate.
- Genuine opportunities for long-term career progression.
- A culture which encourages individuals to contribute to the continued development and success of the business.
- Smart and flexible working practices designed to support a positive work/life balance.
- For somebody looking to establish themselves within the Cambridge planning and development market, this provides an excellent platform from which to develop both technically and commercially.
Salary & Benefits
Basic salary of up to £45,000, dependent upon experience and professional qualifications, together with a comprehensive benefits package including:
- 25 days' annual leave, with entitlement increasing with service.
- Bank holidays in addition to annual leave.
- Holiday Buy Back Scheme.
- Life Assurance at four times basic salary.
- Private Medical Cover following successful completion of probation.
- Westfield Health cash plan.
- Annual travel insurance following successful completion of probation.
- Pension scheme.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave provisions.
- Long Service Awards.
- One paid volunteering day each year for a charity of your choice.
- Ongoing professional training, mentoring and career development.
- Smart / flexible working arrangements.
Working Arrangements
The position is based from my client's Cambridge office and is offered on a permanent basis.
Core working hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.30pm, based upon a 37.5-hour working week. My client operates a Smart Working policy and recognises the importance of flexibility and work/life balance. Whilst the position is advertised on a full-time basis, appropriate part-time or flexible working arrangements may also be considered.
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