Wsp
WSP provides engineering, design, and consulting services across diverse sectors worldwide.
Principal Town Planner (Planning Consultancy)
Lead planning projects, devise strategies, manage applications and stakeholder negotiations.
Job Highlights
About the Role
A little more about your role: you will devise planning strategies, assess site histories and relevant policies, prepare briefing notes on the likelihood of planning permission, draft persuasive planning statements, lead planning aspects in multidisciplinary teams, attend site visits and client meetings, manage project delivery and budgets, collaborate with colleagues across WSP, and monitor applications to respond to consultation feedback. Join our close‑knit community of talented individuals who share a passion for positive impact. Our global team of over 69,000 employees works together to make a difference in communities near and far. Apply today. • Develop planning strategies and assess site histories and policy frameworks • Prepare briefing notes on the likelihood of obtaining planning permission for housing or employment uses • Draft clear, persuasive planning statements to support development proposals • Lead planning components within multidisciplinary project teams • Attend site visits, design team meetings and client consultations • Manage project delivery, including budgetary control • Collaborate with colleagues across WSP (e.g., Transport, Sustainability) to integrate advice • Monitor planning applications and respond to consultation feedback
Key Responsibilities
- ▸planning strategy
- ▸site analysis
- ▸planning statements
- ▸project delivery
- ▸budget control
- ▸application monitoring
What You Bring
We are looking to recruit enthusiastic team players with a can‑do attitude. Candidates should have some private‑sector consultancy experience and possibly local‑authority experience, a proven ability to deliver to a high standard, strong communication skills, a passion to share knowledge and a desire to learn and contribute to the team’s ongoing success. You will be a Principal Planner with solid knowledge and experience of the planning process, including applications, permitted development, policy frameworks, plan promotion and appeals. You will use critical thinking to prepare planning appraisals, develop strategies and produce all necessary documentation while negotiating with planning authorities and stakeholders. We are seeking Principal Planners who can confidently run projects independently and also collaborate within large‑scale multidisciplinary teams. Private‑sector experience is ideal. • Degree in town planning (or related field) • Postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject • Chartered status (MRTPI or NIPA) • Strong knowledge and experience of the UK planning system, preferably in the private sector • Excellent technical and commercial planning consultancy skills • Strong organisational and communication abilities
Requirements
- ▸town planning
- ▸postgraduate
- ▸chartered
- ▸uk planning
- ▸team player
- ▸critical thinking
Benefits
What if you could do the kind of work the world needs? At WSP, you can access our global scale, contribute to landmark projects and connect with the brightest minds in your field to do the best work of your life. You can embrace your curiosity in a culture that celebrates new ideas and diverse perspectives. You can experience a world of opportunity and the chance to shape a career as unique as you. WSP is a leading engineering and professional services firm with 72,800 passionate people dedicated to creating lasting positive impacts through innovation, integrity and inclusion. With over 9,000 professionals across the UK and Ireland, we are committed to our local communities while leveraging international expertise. We offer hybrid working, a culture of inclusivity, extensive health and wellbeing programmes, flexible time arrangements, and strong support for professional development. Our commitment to diversity means we welcome applications from all qualified candidates and provide adjustments for disabled applicants. • Hybrid working: two days remote per week plus office collaboration • Health & wellbeing programmes: Thrive, Virtual GP, workplace adjustments, Gymflex discounts, menopause support • Flexible time initiatives: "WSP My Hour" for personal activities, part‑time/flexible arrangements, additional leave purchase, adaptable bank holiday use • Professional development through training, mentoring and support for chartership
Work Environment
Hybrid