About the role:

LUC is seeking enthusiastic early career or graduate Consultant Planners to support development planning projects across the UK, from our Manchester, London and Bristol offices as part of our award-winning planning team.

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, transport and EIA services, we help clients to maximise the potential of their development, while respecting key assets. We work with the climate and biodiversity emergencies firmly in mind.

Our current projects as planning consultants 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. LUC prides itself on being able to make an impact across a range of project scales.

We are seeking enthusiastic, organised, and motivated people who are keen to learn and assist with a range of projects.

You’ll support our development planning team by helping to:

• Advise clients on planning strategy and the feasibility of projects.
• Research planning issues and interpret planning policies.
• Prepare, submit and negotiate on planning applications and conditions.
• Seek pre-application advice, prepare validation checklists and coordinate inputs from specialist teams. 
• Write supporting Planning Statements.

You’ll also support the wider planning team on strategic planning projects. These may include Green Belt reviews, Sustainability Appraisals, Green Infrastructure studies and assisting local planning authorities with other aspects of local plan making. You will also help to provide EIA screening advice and coordinate specialist reviews of Environmental Statements for LPAs.

The successful candidate(s) will work closely with more senior members of the team who will act as mentors and provide support, guidance, and training, along with having the opportunity to work on a range of challenging and rewarding projects from the outset as part of our early careers programme. You will be self-driven and with an enquiring mind and determination to succeed in a fast paced and diverse role.

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 is based in LUC’s offices in Manchester, London or Bristol. 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: £24,575 - £32,500 FTE (Dependent on experience).

This is a great time to be joining LUC. Since its creation nearly 60 years ago, LUC has been driven by the belief that planning has a critical role to play in shaping the world around us for the better. This work has never been more critical or urgent.

Experience and qualifications

The successful individual will have gained some planning experience with a local planning authority, planning or environmental consultancy, which may have been obtained through a placement as part of your degree, work experience, or following graduation. Ideally, your experience will include considering and making recommendations on planning applications or submitting them for clients.

Essential

• Educated to degree level, in a relevant planning or other degree (graduate and/or post-graduate) or equivalent.
• Working towards Chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) with support from LUC.
• Experience of planning in the public or private sector.  Interest and understanding of environmental issues, key planning policy frameworks, and the potential impacts of new development.
• An organised and efficient approach to completing work within tight deadlines.
• Ability to manage and prioritise own time, working alongside more senior colleagues.
• Excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to building relationships with colleagues and clients.
• Excellent report writing, editing and numeracy skills.
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, particularly with Word and Excel.

Desirable

• Experience of one or more of our key client sectors.
• Experience of considering or submitting planning applications.
• Understanding or and / or experience in Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Knowledge and / or experience of planning systems across the UK.
• The ability to communicate complex planning issues clearly and make concise planning arguments.
• Driving licence.

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

Please apply by uploading your CV and covering letter via the above link

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.