Senior Town Planner, DCO Team
Meet Our Recruiter
About the Role
Join a friendly and high-performing planning consultancy that is developing a strong pipeline including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and other complex developments throughout the UK. This is a key opportunity for a Senior Town Planner based in London or the South-East, to add DCO project experience to their portfolio or maintain that experience whilst also supporting an interesting variety of TCPA projects. From public sector, agricultural and industrial to residential and mixed-use developments, you will have the opportunity to influence strategic planning outcomes, and work closely with clients on high-profile schemes. You will enjoy a varied workload, strong professional autonomy, and clear scope to progress.
About the Role:
As a Senior Planner here, you will play a vital role in the preparation and management of Development Consent Order (DCO) applications and complex TCPA planning submissions, ensuring robust, policy-led outcomes for clients. Working within a specialist DCO and infrastructure team, you will lead smaller projects independently while acting as a key contributor on larger, multidisciplinary schemes. Your work will directly influence project deliverability, planning strategy, and the quality of submissions to local planning authorities and the Planning Inspectorate.
Key Responsibilities:
* Leading smaller projects end-to-end — from inception through planning application to decision, managing timelines, budgets, and client relationships throughout.
* Acting as a key contributor on medium and large-scale projects, collaborating with our multidisciplinary team.
* Attending and where appropriate leading client meetings, presenting planning strategies, and providing clear, commercially aware advice.
* Preparing and reviewing DCO documentation, planning applications, appeals, and supporting technical reports to a high standard.
* Liaison with local planning authorities and statutory consultees to build constructive working relationships and resolve planning issues proactively.
* Coordinating inputs from internal and external consultants to ensure coherent, policy-compliant submissions.
* Keeping pace with evolving planning policy — particularly emerging green belt and grey belt guidance — and applying that knowledge to client work.
* Mentoring and supporting junior colleagues, helping to build team capability, and maintaining high professional standards.
Key Requirements:
* Solid understanding of UK planning legislation and policy, including the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA), Planning Act 2008 and NPPF.
* Proven track-record of managing or significantly contributing to complex planning applications in a consultancy or local authority environment.
* At least three years’ post-graduate experience in town planning, with exposure to infrastructure, residential, or commercial projects.
* Experience in Development Consent Order (DCO) application preparation and management for NSIPs or major infrastructure schemes is not essential.
* Advanced technical report writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, robust planning statements and supporting documentation.
* Confident in liaising with local planning authorities, statutory consultees, and other stakeholders to progress applications.
* Strong project coordination skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines and maintain high-quality outputs.
* Excellent team-working, communication and interpersonal skills, with a client-focused approach.
Qualifications:
* Degree in Town Planning, Urban Planning, or a closely related discipline (or equivalent).
* MRTPI qualified or actively working towards full RTPI membership.
* Postgraduate planning qualification (e.g. RTPI-accredited MSc/MA) advantageous.
* Ongoing CPD record demonstrating up-to-date knowledge of planning law, policy, and practice.
If you are a career-minded Town Planner looking to take on more project responsibilities, with exposure to DCO and NSIP work while developing your career in a supportive, expert team, we would like to hear from you. Apply now to explore this opportunity further.