Introduction
Canal & River Trust is recruiting an Area Planner to join its National Spatial Planning Team in the Midlands. The role is part‑time, permanent, 30 hours per week, and based primarily from home with occasional visits to our hub in Hatton (Warwick) or central Birmingham.
Base pay range
Contract: Permanent, part‑time 30 hours per week.
Salary: £40,000 – £43,395 FTE + £425 per month Car Cash Allowance (pro‑rated).
Benefits: contributory DC pension scheme, paid holiday, volunteering leave, etc.
Our team & opportunity
Our National Spatial Planning Team is responsible for protecting the Trust’s assets and championing the benefits of our waterways. You will play a key role in using the planning system to secure great waterside places, safeguarding heritage and environmental values, and encouraging sustainable use of waterways as transport and recreational routes.
Responsibilities
* Manage a diverse and high‑volume workload of planning consultations and policy matters in your geographical area.
* Engage with local planning authorities, parish councils, community groups and other stakeholders to support the Trust’s planning strategy.
* Respond to statutory consultations, ranging from EIA‑scale developments to minor householder projects, and negotiate the imposition of planning conditions or obligations.
* Represent the Trust in appeals and national infrastructure projects when required.
* Develop relationships with local authorities to ensure the Trust’s network opportunities are recognised in early strategy and planning stages.
* Prepare and review responses to local plans, neighbourhood plans and other policy documents.
* Handle and respond to planning policy matters, ensuring compliance with CPAs, DCOs, and other regulatory regimes.
* Travel to site visits and meetings as necessary.
Qualifications
* A chartered Town Planner (or eligible) with a relevant master’s, diploma or degree.
* Knowledge of TCPA/DCO regimes, appeals, enforcement and public inquiries as expert witness.
* Sound knowledge of planning, heritage and environmental law and regulations.
* Understanding of government policy objectives and the national planning policy framework.
* Experience with GIS‑based systems.
* Advanced negotiation, influencing, presentation, verbal and written communication skills.
* Ability to build effective relationships with local authorities, statutory consultees and stakeholders.
* Experience in public, charity or private sector planning, including complex, multi‑stakeholder projects.
* Ability to manage a challenging workload and meet strict timelines.
* Political awareness and experience in public sector planning.
What we offer
* Competitive contributory DC pension scheme (we double contribution up to 10%).
* 25 days paid holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
* Free access to specialist counselling on health, financial, well‑being and domestic matters.
* Employee benefits including store discounts, boating holiday discounts and holiday purchase scheme.
* 2 days paid volunteering leave per annum.
* Free fishing facilities across our canal network.
Application
Please email your application to CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications. Submit your application as early as possible.
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