Principal Planner (Development Management)

An introduction to our unique company Waterman Aspen is a specialist professional services provider, supporting the delivery of development management, infrastructure and place‑shaping projects across the UK, particularly where organisations are facing skills shortages, increasing caseloads and complex delivery pressures. We work in partnership with both public and private sector clients, providing experienced planners and technical specialists to strengthen capacity, improve outcomes and support confident decision‑making at the point it matters most.

Our model is intentionally flexible. Through secondments and project‑based support, we place the right people with the right skills into client teams at the right time—whether that’s helping organisations manage sustained capacity pressures, progress backlogs, support critical projects, or navigate organisational and policy change. Our clients include local authorities, government bodies, consultancies and developers, and we work as trusted, embedded members of their teams to support confident, defensible decision‑making.

We are a people‑centred organisation and take pride in supporting our colleagues throughout their careers. Mutual respect, professionalism and trust sit at the heart of how we work. This is reflected in our commitment to wellbeing, family‑friendly policies, inclusion and social value, alongside our focus on sustainability and net‑zero ambitions. We are a Disability Confident Employer and an accredited Real Living Wage Employer. We have clear ambitions for the future and a growing Town Planning offer that plays a key role in supporting our clients and communities.

If you’re looking to make a tangible impact, support organisations under real delivery pressure, and gain wide‑ranging experience across the planning sector, we’d like to hear from you.

Your career with Waterman Aspen

Joining Waterman Aspen as a Senior / Principal Planner means becoming part of a supportive, experienced Town Planning team while working on a diverse range of public and private sector projects across the UK, often in environments where additional capacity, experience and judgement are critical. You’ll enjoy the stability and benefits of permanent employment, combined with the variety, challenge and professional breadth that comes from working across different organisations and project environments.

You can expect a role that offers exposure to a wide client base, allowing you to apply your expertise, develop new skills and build a strong professional profile. Our clients actively value the contribution of Waterman Aspen colleagues, creating opportunities for meaningful technical involvement and professional growth. The secondment‑led model also offers flexibility—giving you the chance to broaden your experience with each new assignment, step into different planning contexts quickly, and add value from day one, without the disruption of changing employer.

We support career development at every stage, with access to training, mentoring and guidance from experienced managers and peers, helping you progress towards your professional or academic goals. Alongside this, we offer paid professional subscriptions, regular social and volunteering opportunities, and a culture that values balance, wellbeing and long‑term development.

Experience required

• Degree qualified in Town Planning or a related discipline, with Chartered Membership of the RTPI (or working towards chartership at Senior level where appropriate).
• Significant experience working in a Development Management role within the public sector, consultancy or a client‑facing planning environment, with the ability to operate at Senior or Principal level.
• Strong understanding and practical application of UK planning policy and legislation, including current and emerging changes.
• Proven ability to manage major and complex planning applications, including pre‑application advice and Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs).
• Experience producing high‑quality, robust reports and recommendations, including for delegated decisions and planning committees.
• Confident communicator, able to engage effectively with applicants, stakeholders, members and multidisciplinary teams.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to meet client requirements.

Desirable

• Experience working across both public and private sector planning environments.
• Involvement in planning appeals, including preparation of evidence or expert witness experience.
• Experience of negotiating on complex schemes and contributing to the delivery of high‑profile or large‑scale developments.

Role and responsibilities

As a Senior / Principal Planner you will:

• Lead on pre‑application discussions and the assessment and determination of major and complex planning applications for both public and private sector clients, including Planning Performance Agreements.
• Provide clear, high‑quality professional planning advice to clients, applicants, consultees and councillors, helping manage risk, complexity and competing priorities, while supporting sound decision‑making and positive outcomes.
• Prepare robust, well‑reasoned reports and recommendations for delegated and committee decisions, supporting timely, defensible outcomes in line with current policy and legislation.
• Negotiate with applicants, stakeholders and local communities to secure high‑quality, policy‑compliant development.
• Support planning appeals and complex casework, including the preparation and presentation of professional evidence as required.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of planning policy to support effective service delivery and client objectives.
• Operate confidently within busy planning environments, quickly understanding local context and priorities to help teams progress work effectively under pressure.

The role may be appointed at Senior or Principal level depending on experience. Principal Planners will typically lead the most complex casework and provide informal technical guidance and mentoring to colleagues and client teams.

You’ll get this and so much more

As a salaried colleague, you’ll get a salary in line with your experience, skills and location along with an industry-leading benefits package:

• Company car or car allowance
• Contribution to commuting mileage
• Permanent health insurance
• 25 days annual leave (option to buy up to 5 more), in addition to the normal public holidays (based on a 40 hour week, pro rata for part-time colleagues)
• Company pension contribution
• Salary sacrifice to buy additional benefits
• 1 paid Waterman Aspen in the Community Day to volunteer in your local community