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- Tasks: Provide expert advice on planning for England's historic environment and engage with local authorities.
- Company: Historic England, the public body dedicated to preserving England’s historic places.
- Benefits: Competitive pension scheme, 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, and free entry to heritage sites.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on preserving England's heritage while enjoying flexible working options.
- Qualifications: Degree in town planning or related field, with experience in managing positive change.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a strong commitment to diversity and employee wellbeing.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
Historic England is the public body that looks after England’s historic environment. We champion historic places, helping people understand, value and care for them. An important part of our role is to engage with plans, strategies and development proposals affecting historic places.
In 2026 we will see the launch of a new system for Local Plans, and the re-introduction of a strategic tier of spatial planning across England. Historic England wants to be at the forefront of ensuring that the next era of growth and change both protects and capitalises in our nation’s heritage, securing high quality character-led development.
We have a fantastic opportunity to join our regional Development Advice team as a Historic Environment Planning Adviser. This role is in our London and South East Regional Team and will primarily deal with casework in the south east. This is a full time, permanent position based in London with hybrid working.
The Development Advice Teams assist local communities, including through local authority partners, in appreciating the significance of their local historic environment and its potential to deliver benefits for the community by promoting the effective use of the planning system at strategic and local levels.
As part of this team, the Historic Environment Planning Adviser takes delegated responsibility for providing Historic England’s advice to local authorities and other partners in the preparation and revision of development plans and other strategic planning documents. Applying the ethos of ‘constructive conservation’ and making effective use of Historic England’s guidance in all their advisory work, they will provide advice on strategic planning matters such as Spatial Development Strategies, Local Plans and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, as well as contributing to national and local guidance.
What you will be doing
- To take responsibility for providing Historic England’s formal advice on the formulation of development plans and strategic planning work, with a particular focus on site allocations, to ensure that they set out an appropriate framework to conserve and manage sustainably the historic environment, delivering it to set timescales and to excellent customer service standards.
- To lead and where appropriate co-ordinate the response to other planning-related documents and strategies, including design, transport, minerals, waste, flood risk and coastal change, green infrastructure and financial contributions (e.g. Community Infrastructure Levy, S.106 planning obligations).
- To respond, on behalf of Historic England, to Strategic Environmental Assessments, Sustainability Appraisals and, working with the Development Advice team, to provide expertise on Environmental Impact Assessments to promote the sustainable management of the historic environment.
- To develop constructive relationships with Local Planning Authorities and with other relevant bodies in relation to the plan-making process to promote the sustainable management of the historic environment.
- To represent the organisation as an expert witness at Examinations in Public of Local Plans.
- To contribute to the review, development and dissemination of Historic England’s guidance relating to planning for the historic environment, both individually and in conjunction with colleagues.
- To inform Historic England’s response to emerging policy and practice of government and other bodies, and to assist with the corporate response to consultations from government and others.
- To be an effective advocate for the historic environment.
- To undertake any other reasonable duties commensurate with the grade and competencies required of the post requested by line management.
The role requires occasional travel to sites not serviced by public transport. The role will require occasional attendance at community meetings which are usually held at evenings or weekends.
Who we are looking for
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in town planning or a closely related subject or significant experience in a relevant field.
- A thorough understanding of the national planning system and its legislative context at both the strategic and local level and its role in the sustainable management of the historic environment.
- Evidence of a track record in managing positive change to places.
- Good negotiating and influencing skills.
- Evidence of a track record of working constructively with Local Authorities organisations, developers and owners.
Please note your application will be scored and assessed against the above criteria.
Why we are the right choice
We are an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusion. If you have a disability or neurodiversity, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. Having won the Gold Award from MIND for workplace wellbeing in seven consecutive years, we also recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance.
We are an inclusive employer and believe that flexible working options are for everyone. We want to make sure our working arrangements don’t prevent anyone from joining us because of their personal circumstances. We also want to provide you with the best balance in your home and work life that we can.
We are open to considering options including job sharing, part-time working, compressed hours working and different working locations, including hybrid working. Please visit our jobs pages or contact us to find out more.
Why work for Historic England
We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for everyone. Diversity helps us to perform better and attract more people to support our work. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.
We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates and candidates with disabilities as they are underrepresented within Historic England at this level.
We offer a wide benefits package including a competitive defined benefit pension scheme to which we make 28.97% employer contributions, a generous 28 days holiday, corporate discounts, free entry into English Heritage sites across the country and development opportunities to ensure you achieve your goals.
Provisional virtual interview dates: Early April 2026.
Historic Environment Planning Adviser - London and South East in City of London employer: HISTORIC ENGLAND
Contact Detail:
HISTORIC ENGLAND Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Historic Environment Planning Adviser - London and South East in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the historic environment sector. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals for a chat. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Historic England’s recent projects and initiatives. Show us that you’re genuinely interested in our work and how you can contribute. Tailor your answers to reflect our values and mission – it’ll make you stand out from the crowd!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experiences align with the role of a Historic Environment Planning Adviser. Keep it concise and engaging – we want to hear your passion for preserving our heritage and how you can help us achieve our goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our culture, so you can tailor your approach and show us why you’re the perfect fit!
We think you need these skills to ace Historic Environment Planning Adviser - London and South East in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff: Make sure you understand the role and what Historic England is all about. Dive into the job description and highlight your relevant experience in town planning or related fields. We want to see how your background aligns with our mission!
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter. Personalise your application to reflect how your skills and experiences match the specific requirements of the Historic Environment Planning Adviser role. Show us why you’re the perfect fit!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate well-organised applications that get straight to the point without unnecessary fluff.
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for the historic environment shine through! Share examples of how you've engaged with local communities or contributed to heritage projects. We love candidates who are genuinely excited about making a difference in this field.
How to prepare for a job interview at HISTORIC ENGLAND
✨Know Your Historic Environment
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the national planning system and its legislative context. Familiarise yourself with Historic England's guidance and recent developments in the sector, as this will show your genuine interest and understanding of the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to manage positive change in historic environments. Highlight any successful collaborations with local authorities or developers, as this will illustrate your negotiating and influencing skills.
✨Engage with the Community
Since the role involves attending community meetings, think about how you can effectively engage with local communities. Be ready to share your thoughts on how to promote the sustainable management of the historic environment and how you would advocate for it in public forums.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask during the interview. This could include inquiries about the upcoming changes in local planning systems or how Historic England plans to balance development with conservation. It shows you're proactive and genuinely interested in the organisation's future.