Planning Consultant

London, England, United Kingdom

9/5/2024

Department: Architectural Support

Location: London

Description

The position is suited to an enthusiastic and experienced planning consultant, who would be able to efficiently provide planning support to the directors and project teams. The candidate will be an excellent communicator, able to liaise both internally across project teams, and with a variety of external bodies; providing expertise on strategic planning issues, navigating legal, environmental and economic factors. The role demands an analytic mind paired with extensive planning experience, to assess and propose options that meet the needs of multiple stakeholders. You will be working closely with various teams across the company; planning, managing, and delivering projects through all stages of work, across a high-volume of projects, spanning a variety of building types and scales.

The role will be based at our London studio, but with the option of working from our Winchester studio to maintain an understanding and awareness across the whole company.

Key Competencies, Skills & Requirements

• 5 years of experience years of experience in architecture planning processes or a related role.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to gather and interpret complex data.
• Confident understanding of planning legislation and policy.
• Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and foster strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to prioritise and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
  
  

Key Responsibilities And Accountabilities

Planning Consultancy Capabilities

• Prepare planning applications and appeals, engage in prior approval applications and pre-application processes, and prepare planning notes on land and buildings.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, local authorities and stakeholders as required.
• Support team members to increase their knowledge of planning law and in to implement this knowledge actively into projects.
• Undertake evidence-based studies (such as residential and care need employment land reviews, green belt studies, infrastructure assessments).
• Provide advice and submitting pre-application forms to Local Government UK wide.
• Coordinate Planning Statements, Design and Access Statements and/or input into Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
• Prepare planning applications and supporting documents for development and infrastructure schemes.
• Input into the preparation of Development Consent Orders and associated documentation.
  
  

Client Interface

• Lead the preparation and submission of planning applications defined by Client instructions.
• Adopt a client counsellor/mentor perspective and guide clients through the planning process throughout successes and pain points.
• Ensure clients feel involved and informed in their instruction as you progress projects from proposal to job completion.
• Undertake critical analysis and provide creative solutions to overcome barriers, or potential planning barriers, to achieve a successful outcome for our clients.
• Set the standard as the first point of contact for clients ensuring communications - verbal and written - are professional, efficient, effective, helpful, and appropriate.
• Draft and review submissions and client communications.
• Negotiate and working closely with Local Authorities and key stakeholders.
• Provide Planning update reports, highlighting latest planning legislation and statutory change information.
• Produce and develop long and short-term planning strategies for clients to achieve a positive outcome.
• Active diary management system for key deadlines for Local Government consultations to ensure clients are actively promoting land and made aware.
  
  

Communication & Collaboration

• Excellent communication skills to both influence colleagues internally and represent us externally.
• Create and maintain good working relationships with all external teams working on projects.
• Keep the project managers fully informed of progress of designated tasks and ensure copies of all relevant correspondence are maintained.
• Support planning assistants and technicians develop their writing style to reflect the Group style.
• Coordinate training and mentorship on planning to all levels of staff, identifying additional training requirements as necessary.
• Support team members by providing advice on planning matters and contributing to the preparation of documents in support of planning submissions if required.
• Lead by example.
  
  

Organisation Management

• Effective time management, prioritisation of work and recording of time in line with job estimates for yourself and the wider team. Ensure whilst all work is completed efficiently it also meets or exceeds the required standard and quality.
• Strategically consider how to develop sustainability practices and provide support to the senior management team and Executive Board in these endeavours.
• Support the Finance Manager with timely and accurate client invoicing.
  
  

Qualifications

• Qualified MRICS /RTPI