Senior​/Principal Panner

SF Planning Limited is an independent Town Planning Consultancy providing professional and personalised advice to developers, landowners, businesses, public organisations, and private individuals across the UK. With offices in Cheltenham, London, and Gloucester, the company offers expertise in urban and rural projects of varying sizes, including residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, and conservation developments. As a team of accredited MRTPI planning consultants, SF Planning specialises in managing planning applications, appeals, site appraisals, development strategies, and enforcement matters.

We are looking for an experienced planner to work across commercial, residential, retail and leisure sectors as part of a dedicated, respectful, and supportive team.

As an active participant in the organisation and with a strong understanding of the planning system, specifically in Development Management, you will prepare planning and other applications and appeals; along with all the work that naturally flows from that.

As valued members of the team, our more senior planners take individual responsibility for their own workload, subject to skills, experience, confidence, and ability; as well as provide general support to their team leader.

We are specifically seeking someone with the ability to manage their own caseload, from start to finish, with support from other team members as and when required.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects, to grow professionally in a dynamic and challenging environment, and to develop your planning and project management skills.

• Providing advice (over the phone and by email) to potential new clients.
• Drafting and completing planning appraisals.
• Drafting and completing relevant documents to support planning and other applications as well as appeals.
• Completing planning and other application forms and submitting/managing applications.
• Reviewing and commenting on the work of other external consultants.
• Monitoring applications through their process, including negotiating with planning officers and liaising with clients and other consultants.
• Delegating tasks to junior team members and checking their work.

All the above will be in support of the team as a whole, and in line with the company's culture and values, about and to which we are clear and committed.

• The ability to ‘hit the ground jogging’ (if not running).
• A strong understanding of current planning legislation, policy and guidance, and regulations, with a willingness to fill in knowledge ‘gaps’.
• Integrity – to ask for assistance when needed and to own mistakes when they are made (we all make them after all).
• The confidence to respectfully challenge ideas and strategies.
• The ability to build relationships with colleagues, clients, and other consultants.
• A willingness to listen and learn from the skills and experience of others in the team.
• The ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Refining an eye for detail in the world of planning.
• Enhancing negotiation skills with a view to knowing how to resolve conflicts and find solutions.
• Willingness to ‘get involved’ in networking events, training/CPD, work socials, etc.

We have a flexible approach to this vacancy and would consider applicants with varying skills and experience at a senior planner/principal planner level.

Applicants will preferably have a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience. Some local authority experience would be an advantage, but this is not essential.

We welcome applications from those who are MRTPI and those working towards membership.

On-going training and support (both internal and external) is important and will be available to fill any skills gaps.

• Hybrid and genuinely flexible working available
• 4 times your annual salary in life assurance
• Long term sickness benefit

As a team, we care about people, their well‑being, and their future. We value each other’s skills and opinions and create a supportive, open environment that enables people to flourish, in a genuine effort to make time at work enjoyable.

Starting salary will depend on an applicant’s level and experience. We are very content to have frank conversations about salary and overall package early in the recruitment process.

Please apply by sending a copy of your CV and a short cover letter to