Principal Area Planner/Technical Planner

Job Title: Principal Area Planner / Technical Planner

Salary: Circa £58,000

Brand: 3

Reference: SF5685

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Endeavour Square / Hybrid

Application closing date: 20th October 2026 @ 23.59

External - All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory right‑to‑work checks. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. At the present time TfL is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

About the role

Influence and shape new developments, local planning policy and area plans to meet key transport outcomes. To ensure TfL’s objectives and London Plan policies are met through TfL’s involvement in land use planning matters referred to the Mayor by local planning authorities and planning applications affecting the highways network referred to TfL directly by London boroughs. To lead the development and dissemination of best practice in relation to TfL's role within the planning process and work closely with officers in the GLA and boroughs and with developers on major applications to secure desired transport outcomes and mitigations and protect TfL assets. To support the GLA in the preparation and implementation of Housing Zones, area planning frameworks and masterplans to embed more sustainable travel patterns and ensure transport requirements and investment priorities are understood.

Key accountabilities

• Lead TfL’s response on planning applications, undertaking assessment and co-ordinating internally to evaluate the technical and policy response to major development proposals and masterplans against relevant planning and transport policies, balancing different business priorities and ensuring a robust and coherent TfL position
• Lead the liaison and negotiation with GLA, boroughs, developers etc on planning applications, ensuring engagement through all the stages of the process, including pre-application through to implementation, to secure key transport outcomes and negotiating agreements and mitigations on transport and appropriate financial contributions from planning obligations
• Work closely with the GLA to ensure reports to the Mayor reflect TfL's position and priorities, draft associated briefings and responses to key matters and give evidence to Planning Committees, inquiries etc to justify TFL’s position on applications
• Work with boroughs to shape Local Planning Committee reports and lead TfL’s input to local planning policy documents
• Represent TfL at senior level meetings with the GLA, boroughs, developers and others to secure key transport outcomes
• Support / lead TfL's input to studies/frameworks/planning documents for particular Opportunity Areas, Areas of Intensification and other growth areas eg Housing Zones
• Manage casework of and provide coaching / support to Planners and manage consultants and legal advisors.
• Develop and disseminate best practice and innovation in Spatial Planning's approach & processes to promote continuous
• improvement in the way TfL helps plan and assess new development to ensure MTS/London Plan objectives are delivered.

Knowledge

• Degree in relevant discipline, membership of relevant professional body (eg RTPI, CIHT) or equivalent experience
• Thorough understanding of the development process
• Detailed understanding of planning and transport legislation in London, local government, and funding mechanisms (eg S106/CIL) and how they inter-relate
• Good understanding of development control issues as Highway and Traffic Authority.
• Good understanding of key land use and transport planning challenges facing London.
• Thorough understanding of the transport assessment process.
• Good understanding of a multi-modal urban transport environment.

Skills

• Able to influence and advise key decision makers at all organisational and political levels.
• Strong collaboration skills, able to work effectively across a range of stakeholders and balance competing priorities
• Strong negotiation skills and able to handle complex stakeholder relationships in the context of development proposals
• Excellent written and verbal communication, conveying complex issues and priorities
• Able to work and think both strategically and tactically
• Able to manage projects and caseloads in accordance with agreed project plan to deliver outcomes for TfL.
• Able to manage consultants
• Able to manage cases and work in a project team environment to tight timescales
• Able to provide effective technical planning advice to non-technical people

Experience

• Experience of providing advice externally on land use planning and policy procedures.
• Experience of dealing with major planning applications and responding to planning policy documents including S106 and S278 negotiations.
• Experience of providing input into development of local and strategic transport and land use strategies / policies.
• Experience of preparing and giving evidence to planning inquiries and examinations.
• Experience of managing complex projects (including with consultants) with tight deadlines and delivering to time and budget and of writing scope documents for internal providers / external consultants.

Application Process

• Please apply using your CV only think carefully about the skills, knowledge and experience in the advert and cover this in your CV.

PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images

Benefits

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the level of role but mostly include the below:

• Final salary pension scheme
• Free travel for you on the TfL network
• Reimbursement of 75% of the cost of a standard class Ticket for National Rail travel from home or 75% reimbursement on a 28-day flexi ticket
• 30 days annual leave plus public and bank holidays
• TfL is committed to work-life balance, operating a hybrid working approach where business and role requirements allow
• Private healthcare discounted scheme (optional)
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers
• Discounted Eurostar travel
  
  

Vetting Process

At Transport for London, safety, trust and fairness sit at the heart of how we recruit. Our Vetting Charter (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/our-vetting-process) explains the checks we carry out before you join us, helping ensure we create a safe, inclusive and reliable network for everyone who depends on our services. We simply ask that the information you provide is honest and accurate so we can progress your application smoothly. If something doesn’t match or can’t be verified, we may not be able to move forward with your application, but we’ll always treat you with transparency, respect, and clear communication throughout.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria. We also use anonymising software that removes identifying information from CVs and cover letters to make the process fair.