Job Title: Associate / Associate Director of Town Planning Location: Altrincham, Manchester

Penguin Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a highly regarded planning consultancy in their search for an Associate or Associate Director of Town Planning. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious, chartered planner to join a dynamic team and take a leading role in delivering a wide range of high-quality developments.

The consultancy works across residential, commercial, and mixed-use sectors, providing strategic advice from site appraisal through to implementation. They have an integrated approach, combining planning, environmental assessment, and community engagement to ensure projects succeed.

Associate / Associate Director - Key Responsibilities:

* Planning Appraisals: Lead on assessing development prospects and creating bespoke planning strategies to maximise the likelihood of securing permissions. * Pre-Application Engagement: Proactively engage with local authorities to provide clarity on design parameters, policy requirements, and development viability. * Planning Statements: Prepare high-quality statements to demonstrate compliance with planning policy, highlight benefits, and provide a balanced planning argument. * Planning Management: Coordinate the application process from inception to implementation, managing consultant teams and ensuring documents are accurate and consistent. * Public Consultation: Develop and deliver consultation strategies to engage effectively with local communities, statutory consultees, and stakeholders. * Planning Appeals: Lead and support planning appeals where applications are refused, ensuring strategic and technical expertise is applied throughout.

Associate / Associate Director - Requirements:

* Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI). * Extensive post-qualification experience within consultancy or developer-led planning. * Proven track record in managing planning projects and leading consultant teams. * Strong knowledge of planning legislation, policy, and development management. * Excellent communication, report writing, and stakeholder engagement skills. * Strategic thinker with the ability to guide complex projects to successful outcomes.