Description:
National Highways currently have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Spatial Planner to join our Midlands Spatial Planning team in our Operations Directorate.
You will play an active and responsive role in the planning system by taking a proactive approach, helping to ensure that new developments are well located and planned for, and the travel demands they create are also managed and sustainable for the strategic road network. You will work to support a Spatial Planner in understanding local partner and developer spatial planning aspirations, and in identifying what interventions are necessary for developments to mitigate the transport impact created.
This role can be based at either our Birmingham or Nottingham office.
What you’ll be doing
- Apply specialist knowledge to evaluate the potential impact and implications of planning applications on the Strategic Road Network to enable a measured, robust and informed response to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the SRN is maintained, escalating more complex cases to the Spatial Planner or Spatial Planning Manager
- Prepare and write planning application responses and reports, and support Spatial Planners prepare reports and responses on more complex cases
- Supporting Spatial Planners in cooperating with Local Planning Authorities and relevant stakeholders in the development of local plans and strategic growth plans.
- Discharge our statutory responsibilities within the planning process, including the commissioning of specialist consultant support; where necessary escalating more complex cases to the Spatial Planner or Spatial Planning Manager
- Support ongoing liaison with key external stakeholders, through attendance at local planning meetings and other planning or discussion forums, providing evidence-based and transparent guidance and advice on future local plans, as well as sharing information of National Highways emerging strategies and future development works for the region.
- Support the attendance of Spatial Planners in representing the Region at public examinations, appeals and public inquiries.
- Work with the Spatial Planner to engage with internal and external partners to identify and secure funding opportunities for improvements to the network in support of economic growth e.g. through developer contributions or other relevant funds
To be successful
- Understanding of spatial planning and associated legislation including development management
- Working towards / achieved Town Planner or Transport Planner qualification, or equivalent professional experience
- Experience of duties to be discharged through relevant statutory and regulatory requirements, operational standards, service delivery manuals, requirements and guidance in relation to spatial planning
- Appreciation of the relationship between transport infrastructure and the spatial planning arena
- Knowledge of transport appraisal techniques and guidance
- Awareness of health & safety