Senior Planner

Job Title:

Senior Town Planner

Location:

Reading

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a specialist planning consultancy delivering bespoke planning services for large-scale residential and commercial developments across the UK. The consultancy provides expert advice across the full planning lifecycle, including land searches, site appraisals, planning strategy development, site promotion, Local Plan examinations, Environmental Impact Assessments, planning applications, and appeals, with experience acting as expert witnesses at public inquiries.

Due to continued growth, they are seeking an experienced Senior Town Planner to join their expanding Reading office.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Town Planner to take a leading role in delivering strategic and development management planning services across a diverse portfolio of major projects. You will manage client relationships, oversee planning submissions, and contribute to business growth within a collaborative and forward-thinking consultancy environment.

• Manage planning projects for large-scale residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments
• Prepare and submit planning applications, appeals, and representations
• Develop planning strategies and site promotion frameworks
• Support Local Plan consultations and examinations in public
• Provide clear, commercially focused planning advice to clients and landowners
• Liaise with local authorities, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary consultant teams
• Mentor junior planners and contribute to team development
• Act as an expert witness at hearings and public inquiries where required

• MRTPI qualified (or close to achieving chartered status)
• Proven experience in a consultancy or local authority planning environment
• Strong knowledge of UK planning policy, development management, and plan-making
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience managing projects and client relationships
• Commercial awareness and the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively

• Competitive salary and performance-related bonus
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Structured career progression and professional development support
• Exposure to high-profile and strategic development projects across the UK
• Supportive, collaborative consultancy culture