Planner
Who We Are
DLP Planning Ltd are seeking to recruit, a Planner to the Company’s Strategic Planning Research Unit (SPRU). The position will be based at either of DLP’s Sheffield or Bedford Offices, but the flexibility of virtual working will allow the candidate to work nationally, providing advice and guidance to all DLP offices and clients across the country.
DLP Planning Ltd is part of the DLP Consulting Group, and was formed in 1991 as an independent planning and development consultancy and became an Employee Owned Trust (E.O.T) in 2022. Having grown consistently over the years, the Group now comprises of Town Planning, Architecture, Master Planning, Urban Design and Transportation and Infrastructure Design teams, serving a wide variety of clients and operating from offices at Bedford, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Milton Keynes, Rugby and Sheffield.
SPRU’s work is based on providing demographic and economic research to support planning applications, the promotion of land for development and preparation of planning policy as part of work across the private and public sectors. SPRU make recognised contributions to key strategic debates within the planning sector. These include encouraging cooperation beyond local authority boundaries, managing the release of land from the Green Belt for development and seeking to increase housing delivery and meet a greater proportion of housing need. We have recently published ground-breaking research on the housing needs of older people supporting an increase in the delivery of specialist housing for older people.
If these topics reflect your interests and experience this role may be suitable for you.
The Strategic Planning Research Unit, is a specialist team within the Group and provides clients with support and assistance in the following areas:
- Housing demand and need including Strategic Housing Market Assessments including the preparation and critique of household and population projections.
- Assessments of need for specialist housing for older people
- Assessments of need for specialist housing for Care Bed Provision
- Local Affordable Housing Needs Surveys
- Evidence to inform proposals for and management of Houses in Multiple Occupation
- Housing Supply including 5-year housing land supply assessments
- Employment land demand and supply
- Economic Benefits Assessment
- Health Impact Assessment
- Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan Preparation and critical friend consultation
- Strategic Site Promotion
- Development Plan evidence base including Retail assessments and retail impact statements, Sustainability Appraisal and Green Belt Reviews
- Attendance at Local Plan Hearings
- Expert Witness at Planning Inquiries
- Bespoke research commissions
Our recent work has concentrated on the production of evidence on the five year housing land supply assessments, establishing housing need, interrogating the need and supply for employment land and illustrating the economic impact of development proposals. We regularly contribute attend and influence Local Plan Examination and Planning Inquiry appearances in relation to these matters.
Who You Are
This post would suit a planner or economist/geographer with a background in socio-economic research who is able to demonstrate a high level of numeracy and strong analytical skills using relevant software including Microsoft Excel. The post holder will work closely with the Directors of the SPRU team on a range of strategic and smaller specialist projects.
The ability to prepare clear and concise reports and be able to convey planning and associated socio-economic issues in a succinct way is an essential requirement of the role. The role would be suited to recent graduates able to demonstrate their suitability and the skills required. A Town Planning qualification and relevant planning experience gained within the private or public sector is desirable but not essential. The successful candidate may have studied related disciplines including economics or geography or demonstrate a background in socio-economic research.
They should also be IT literate with good skills in word processing, database management and spreadsheets; with a particular emphasis on statistical analysis.
The successful candidate should be able to manage competing demands on their time and to prioritise tasks accordingly.
This post is permanent and will commence in immediately. It would particularly suit a candidate with an interest and talent for information and data analysis wishing to gain experience on a diverse range of projects across the UK.
Description of the Role:
The Planner will occupy a role within SPRU and will be tasked with work appropriate to their experience and skill in the preparation and collection of data and analysis focussed upon providing relevant evidence and supporting reports to inform material to be submitted alongside application proposals and contributions to Local Plan Examinations or Planning Appeals and Inquiries. The post holder may also be required to work alongside colleagues from across the company on a wide range of projects.
Key responsibilities and accountabilities include:
- Working to the direction of senior members of the SPRU team and reporting accordingly;
- Tasks set will vary according to circumstances. These will range from personal responsibility for individual projects; to the completion of discreet projects and tasks as directed as part of the wider professional team.
Salary & Benefits
We offer excellent opportunities to develop and grow your skills and career through involvement in a wide variety of projects as well as a competitive salary, pension scheme, bonus scheme, private health insurance, life insurance and contributions towards professional subscriptions along with a great working environment. You will also become a member of the E.O.T. following successful completion of probation, which will provide you with a ‘stake’ in the Company, from which you will benefit financially.
The Company operates a blended working arrangement whereby staff are required to be in their office for core days, with the remainder of the week being either working from home or from an office and to arrange this according to project/company needs.
A full driving licence is desirable.