Associate Town Planner

Associate Town Planner

Location: Exeter

Salary: £60-70,000

I'm working with a practice who is seeking an Associate Town Planner with strong technical expertise, a positive reputation in strategic site promotion, and proven experience in complex planning consents and planning-led project management. The successful Associate Town Planner will work across a portfolio of strategic site promotion projects, securing allocations and consents, developing client relationships and supporting business growth. They will lead planning inputs from strategy through to delivery, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and helping clients navigate complex planning challenges.

Requirements

• MRTPI accreditation with significant experience within the UK planning system.
• Strong technical planning expertise, with a proven track record in strategic land promotion and securing planning allocations and consents.
• Experience managing complex, major and multi-phase planning applications, including outline, detailed and reserved matters submissions.
• Strong understanding of planning policy, case law and the wider regulatory environment, with the ability to provide commercially focused planning advice.
• Proven experience in planning appeals, Local Plan examinations and/or strategic plan-making, ideally including acting as Expert Witness.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex planning matters clearly to clients and stakeholders.
• Strong project management and commercial awareness, with experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, programmes and budgets.
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial and creative approach, with the ability to build strong client relationships and contribute to business development.

Role

• Lead planning strategies for strategic site promotion, allocations and planning applications, primarily focused on residential-led development.
• Provide planning advice across a range of development sectors, project scales and stages, from initial site appraisal and feasibility through to delivery.
• Lead and manage complex planning projects, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and overseeing planning inputs, programmes and budgets.
• Advise clients on planning risks, emerging policy, planning permission flexibility and post-consent implementation strategies.
• Play a leading role in planning appeals, Local Plan examinations, Spatial Development Strategies and other strategic plan-making work.
• Support work-winning, bids, tenders and business development while developing and maintaining strong client and stakeholder relationships.
• Contribute to the wider leadership and development of the planning service, including business planning, service development and strategic initiatives.
• Provide line management, mentoring and professional support to junior planners and colleagues across the wider planning team.

Benefits

• Opportunity to join an award-winning, purpose-led planning and design practice with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Work within a creative, multi-disciplinary environment combining planning, design and environmental expertise.
• Be part of an employee-owned practice where collaboration, shared responsibility and collective ambition are central to the culture.
• Work on a varied portfolio of strategic projects across different sectors, scales and geographies.
• Play a significant role in shaping new communities, regeneration projects and development that delivers lasting benefits for people and the environment.
• Strong opportunities for professional development, career progression and increased responsibility.
• Work alongside experienced planning, design and environmental professionals on complex and high-profile projects.
• Flexible studio location options, with the role based in Oxford, Bristol or Exeter and consideration given to candidates within reasonable travelling distance of other studios.