Principal Planning Consultant - Oxford

Strategic Residential, Appeals & Education CampusProjects

An outstanding opportunity has arisen for a Principal Planning Consultant to join a highly regarded Oxford-based planning consultancy delivering major residential and strategic land projects across Oxfordshire and the wider South East.

This firm is known for working on complex and sensitive planning schemes, often involving heritage constraints, political scrutiny and high levels of stakeholder engagement. Their client base includes national house-builders, land promoters, private estates and education providers delivering major campus expansion projects.

If you enjoy planning strategy, appeals, Local Plan promotion and technically challenging sites, this is a role that will keep you engaged.

The Role

As Principal Planning Consultant, you will lead complex planning projects and provide strategic advice to clients.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading major residential planning applications and strategic housing schemes
• Drafting robust Planning Statements and supporting evidence documentation
• Managing Local Plan representations and strategic land promotion work
• Leading appeal strategies including hearing and inquiry preparation
• Advising on education campus expansion and estate development planning
• Coordinating multi-disciplinary consultant teams (heritage, transport, ecology, EIA etc.)
• Acting as lead client contact and trusted planning advisor
• Mentoring junior planners and supporting technical development within the team

This role offers a strong mix of technical planning work and client leadership responsibility.

About You

• MRTPI qualified (or extremely close to completion)
• Strong experience in consultancy, local authority or developer-side planning
• Proven ability managing complex residential planning schemes
• Appeal and Local Plan experience advantageous
• Excellent written and analytical skills
• Commercially minded and confident managing client expectations

A superb opportunity for a planner looking to step into a more strategic and senior position.

All applications will be treated in strict confidence.