Assistant Planner

Role overview

• ID: 2024-5854
• Entity: Vistry
• Region: Vistry South West Midlands
• Department: Land & Planning
• Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time
• Job Location: Coleshill, West Midlands
• Date Posted: 23.07.2024

We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Planner to join our team within Vistry South West Midlands, at our office in Coleshill. As our Assistant Planner, you will appraise new development opportunities; implement strategies to achieve planning for housing sites; assist in securing planning permissions which meet the requirements of Vistry Group and support post planning approval activities for major developments.

• Let's cut to the chase, what's in it for you...

• Competitive basic salary and annual bonus

• Company car, car allowance or travel allowance

• Up to 33 days annual leave plus bank holidays

• Private Healthcare

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave

• Competitive contributory pension scheme

• Life assurance – 4 x your annual salary

• Share incentive schemes

• Employee rewards portal with many more benefits...

• In return, what we would like from you...

• Behave in line with our company values – Integrity, Caring and Quality

• Degree accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)

• Chartered Membership of the RTPI or demonstrable progress towards completing Assessment of Professional Competence (APC)

• A good understanding of the planning system including experience of preparing representations

• Preparation and submission of planning applications

• Ability to assess and analyse information

• IT skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

• Ability to monitor and manage budgets

• A pragmatic approach to problem solving

• Excellent communication skills

• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise tasks accordingly

• Ability to work independently with a high degree of accuracy

• Discretion and integrity in attitude and approach

• Willing to work extra hours (including out of hours) to meet deadlines or attend key events as and when the business need requires it

Desirable...

• Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

• Previous experience working for a house builder or Local Authority

• Previous experience in respect of strategic land

• Appeal experience (including Planning Inquiry)

• Experience managing Section 106 Agreements or working within CIL regimes

• Understanding of development viability

• Promap / CAD skills

• Commitment to Continued Professional Development (CDP)

• Strong negotiating and networking skills

• More about the Assistant Planner role...

• Appraise land with potential for development in accordance with the Company's requirements.

• Prepare bid documents and planning reports to facilitate the acquisition of new land assets.

• Monitor development plans and associated evidence base documents to identify new opportunities and to assess the impacts of emerging policy on existing sites and those being considered for acquisition.

• Identify and coordinate appropriate consultant teams to prepare planning applications (note, overseen by Planning Manager).

• Engage with local planning authorities and other relevant bodies and stakeholder groups with regard to the development of sites. Assist in the coordination of planning consultation events as required.

• Submit and monitor pre and post planning approvals and report these as required.

• Assist the Planning Manager with the negotiation of planning permissions during an application's determination period, including preparing Section 106 heads of terms and monitoring S106 requests made by the LPA.

• Submit and monitor S106 approvals and report these as required.

• Monitor the Judicial Review period associated with planning permissions.

• Consult with relevant internal departments within the company on all aspects of planning as and when necessary.

• Ensure that contractual obligations are understood and complied with on every site. Liaise with the Planning Manager to ensure that landowners / agents are kept informed as required by the contractual agreements.

• Provide regular updates to the Planning Manager and Land and Partnerships Director on the progress of planning applications and any significant proposals affecting the development environment within the operating area.

• Where necessary, assist the Planning Manager/ Land and Partnerships Director

• with planning appeals.

• To ensure all work is carried out within an agreed budget and in accordance with Company policies and procedures.

• Prepare scope of works, request fee proposals and make recommendations with regard to consultant appointments.

• Work with the Group Land Administrator to ensure that Consultant Authorisation Forms and letters of instruction are duly authorised and logged.

• Support the Group Land Administrator with regard to payment queries and liaise with accounts to ensure invoices are paid in line with Company procedures.

• Ensure you have read the Company's health and safety policies and procedures observe them at all times.

• Reporting any accidents or near misses immediately to your Manager and record them in the accident book.

• Ensure your workplace is kept tidy and any hazards are eliminated or reported to your line manager.

• Wear appropriate protective clothing on site at all times.

• Attend all health and safety training as required by the Company.

Finally, let's tell you a bit more about us...

We're Vistry Group, the UK's leading provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes. Our core values of integrity, caring, and quality shape all we do; our partnership-led approach helps us build sustainable communities where they're needed most.

You're probably familiar with our unmatched portfolio of brands: Linden Homes, Bovis Homes, and Countryside Homes. We also have Vistry Works, our timber frame manufacturing operation, and Vistry Services, our support functions. Together, we build more than homes, so there's nowhere better to build your career. We're proud that our culture sees everyone treated fairly and respectfully, with diversity and inclusion a top priority and reasonable adjustments provided during the application process. Join us in making Vistry.

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