Summary: The Principal Planner will lead complex infrastructure planning projects, specifically focusing on Transport and Works Act Orders (TWAOs) and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) in Cambourne/Cambridge. This role involves project management, stakeholder engagement, and ensuring compliance with UK planning legislation. The position requires a strong understanding of planning policies and the ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams effectively. The contract is hybrid, requiring two days in the office per week, and is inside IR35.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead on complex infrastructure planning projects including TWAO and NSIP schemes.
• Project manage the end-to-end infrastructure planning project process, including stakeholder engagement, risk management, evidence preparation, and public inquiries.
• Represent the shared planning service in high-level meetings with applicants, statutory consultees, elected members, legal counsel, and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate internal and external inputs across planning, transport, environment, legal and other technical services.
• Support policy alignment with Local Plans, National Policy Statements (NPS), and government infrastructure priorities.

Key Skills:

• Strong project management skills, including proven experience of leading complex infrastructure planning projects under the TWAO and NSIP regulatory regimes from inception to decision.
• Excellent understanding of UK planning legislation and policy, including the Planning Act 2008 and TWA 1992, particularly the Planning Act 2008, TWA 1992, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, and Localism Act.
• Proven ability to co-ordinate multi-disciplinary teams, manage competing deadlines, and ensure delivery of high-quality outputs.
• Experience of preparing Local Impact Reports, Relevant Representations, and Written Representations for NSIPs.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, including working with local communities, developers, legal advisors, and statutory consultees.
• Experience of taking part in public inquiry or the formal examination process participation (Desirable).
• Experience with Planning Performance Agreements, using project tracking tools and digital planning systems (Desirable).
• Full clean driving licence.
• RTPI accredited degree in Town Planning or related discipline.
• Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) or eligible for it.

Salary (Rate): undetermined

City: Cambridge

Country: United Kingdom

Working Arrangements: hybrid

IR35 Status: inside IR35

Seniority Level: undetermined

Industry: Other