Associate Director, Development Planning

This role can be based in our Bristol, Cardiff, London, Sheffield or Manchester office.

We are seeking a skilled and experienced chartered Town Planner to lead on large scale renewable energy projects including DCO / NSIPs in England and major projects in Scotland and Wales.

At LUC we deliver an exciting range of projects across the UK. From early advice on planning strategy and feasibility through to securing planning permission and providing post consent support, you will be a technically confident planning advisor to our public and private sector clients on renewables projects and across our other key sectors.

Our key sectors are renewable energy, education, sport and recreation, historic environment, agriculture and forestry, housing and mixed-use development. With our complementary landscape, heritage, ecology climate change and EIA services, we help clients to maximise the potential of their development.

Our current projects include advising on wind, solar, energy storage and grid upgrade projects for private and public sector clients; masterplans and major projects for schools; landmark developments in historic parks and gardens; new facilities for sport and recreation; and parks, recreation and housing schemes for local authorities.

The role includes the opportunity to share and participate actively in the management and ownership of the business through the Employee Ownership Trust, which places full ownership of the company with the employees.

The role can be based in LUC’s Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester or Sheffield offices. We work in a hybrid model with people being in the office a minimum of two days per week. There will also be travel required to visit sites, client offices and other office locations.

A full-time role is based on 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday). However, LUC has a strong track record in flexible working, and we have been recognised for our flexible working culture, so we are happy to discuss a range of flexible working options for this role including part-time hours (minimum 30 hours per week) if desired.

Salary: Dependent on experience (plus London allowance of £4,000 if applicable).

Experience and qualifications

This is a senior appointment, requiring relevant experience as planning lead on large scale renewable energy projects, including DCO/NSIPs, and appropriate qualifications.

Essential

• Development Consent Order (DCO) / NSIP experience as planning lead and expert witness.
• You will have project managed and / or led a range of applications or development projects including renewable energy and infrastructure projects, at a range of scales including large / complex projects, taking a lead on planning strategy and negotiating with local planning authorities / applicants.
• Extensive development management experience, including the preparation of feasibility studies, pre-application / planning application reports, submitting applications and building excellent relationships with local planning authority case officers / applicants.
• Understanding of Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Excellent communication skills, the ability to build and nurture positive and effective relationships with colleagues, clients, and case officers, and good negotiation skills.
• Excellent report writing skills including the ability to communicate complex planning issues clearly and make concise planning arguments.
• Educated to at least degree level, in a relevant Planning or other degree (graduate and/or post-graduate).
• Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).

Desirable

• Development of National Significance (DNS) / Infrastructure Consent (IC) experience in Wales and s36 experience in Scotland.
• Experience of Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Expert witness at appeals and inquiries.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Please apply by uploading your CV and covering letter via the 'apply' button above.

LUC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. We value the differences, needs and contributions a diverse workforce represents, and we strive to embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all our people related activities.

About LUC:

LUC is an award-winning environmental consultancy celebrating 60 years of impact. Since 1966, we have been dedicated to a single mission: delivering better futures for nature, people, and places.

As an independent, employee-owned business, we combine a rich heritage with a forward-looking approach. Our multidisciplinary teams – spanning planning, impact assessment, landscape design, ecology, and geospatial services – collaborate to tackle complex land-use challenges across the UK.

From restoring historic environments to driving climate resilience and nature recovery, we are proud of our past. But in our 60th year, our focus is firmly on the future and driving positive change for the next generation.

Our Mission is to deliver better futures for nature, people and places.

Just like our founders, we’re dedicated to leaving this world in a better place. And we believe we have the power to create a positive legacy through all our projects. We do this by guiding our clients, as well as influencing national and local policy.

Of course, we recognise that change is inevitable. But we also recognise that cities, towns and landscapes of the future must work to help nature recover and to create a fairer society for all. We are committed to creating beautiful, inclusive places that support the health and wellbeing of the people and environments impacted by such inevitable change.

Our Values are what make us.

They reflect our heritage, express the attitudes of our people, and capture what our clients tell us we’re like to work with. Our values are timeless, informing the actions of every generation of LUC.

They guide our big thinking as much as our daily working lives – from the projects we pursue, to how we manage people, to how we resolve conflicting interests.

• We act with professionalism and integrity
• We have the courage and openness to lead
• We collaborate to achieve shared goals
• We act with passion, insight and creativity
• We are intrinsically people-centred