Environmental Town Planner

This is an opportunity for a Town & Country Planner to develop their understanding of how the water environment impacts upon land use planning and ensure that water availability and source protection are properly integrated into land use planning through local plans and development management decision making.

This role is ideally suited to an experienced Town and Country Planning professional with a sound understanding of development management and a working knowledge of the local plan preparation process. Should ideally be a full member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) but this is not essential. A wider understanding of environmental legislation as it impacts and affects the water environment and biodiversity generally. Post provides a good opportunity to develop understanding of how biodiversity net gain requirements will impact land use planning both for water company related development as well as wider development where is having an impact on the water environment.

As a Environmental Town Planner you will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination and management of all matters relating to relevant planning enquiries for our above ground, below ground and water resources assets. Supported by the wider team, this role is the initial point of contact for growth enquiries from local authorities into our business.

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Local planning authorities**

Collate and maintain a table of all local planning authorities and county councils with contact details in our area of operation.
- Develop and work to a defined and agreed process for the management of planning enquiries relating to our above ground assets, below ground assets and our water resources.
- Coordinating and collating Water Resources and Developer Services library of draft planning conditions to be used in responses.
- Working closely with our GIS team (Geographical Analysis) to ensure development are picked up pre planning via the search and advice service they offer and that new information is passed to them for capture on local plan shape files.
- Ensuring deliverables for the role meet asset protection programme requirements as defined by the Asset Specialist (Drought & Asset Protection) and are of the appropriate quality.

Seek out and keeping track of the status of planning permissions and keep team briefed.

**Environmental and Planning Consultations**

Coordinate responses for relevant inbound Environmental Information Requests (EIR) and ensure you meet the 20 day regulatory lead time for all such requests.

**Policies, Strategies and Developer Engagement**
- Support Asset Specialist (Asset Protection) to run regular developer open days to engage and inform on key topics
- Develop policies around asset protection e.g. avoidance of build overs on supply pipes and trunk mains. Where these policy already exist (e.g. GIS team policy documents), ensure they are shared for education and awareness with relevant parties.
- Working with Developer Services assist with the drafting/updating of the advice and communications to developers who wish to develop near our assets.
- Assisting with regular training workshops /liaison with developers and their consultants, LPAs, CCs and other utilities so that they appreciate what the issues around developing near SPZs, aquifers, boreholes and AWL hard apparatus (pipes mains and pumping stations) and how best to mitigate the risk
- Exploring any areas where proposed developments could lead to enhancing assets/additional data collection/ improving the environment as part of the quid pro quo of the planning process and /or any direct contractual agreements we finalise with developers in exchange for withdrawing objections

**Land Group**
- Support the Asset Specialist (Asset Protection) to review assets under consideration for disposal by the business.
- Coordinate, collect and chase for input from other teams to complete the asset survey process (using the land disposal evaluation form in Asset Strategy).
- Meet deadlines agreed with Asset Specialist for the completion of each evaluation exercise.

**Project Support/Coordination**
- Support the leads for Drought Management Planning and Strategic Asset Management Planning in delivering their plans through a number of project support activities.
- Act as Drought Project Coordinator during a live drought.

**Role requirements**:

- Degree qualified in a relevant discipline and chartered with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Royal Town Planning Institute (RITP).
- Experience in our supply area and have an existing network of contacts with local planning teams.
- Project management qualification would also be an advantage.
- Meticulously organised and with exceptional communication and engagement skills, the role will involve very regular contact both inside and outside the business so confidence and approachability are key
- RTPI accredited with at least five years’ experience of land use planning in