Senior/Principal Planner

🔒 Confidential Employer
Posted 7 May 2026
LOCATION
Sturminster Newton, Dorset
TYPE
Full-time
LEVEL
Mid-Senior level
SALARY
£60,000 / year
CATEGORY
Architecture & Planning
This employer holds a UK Home Office sponsor license — sponsorship for this specific role is at the employer’s discretion

SKILLS

Client-facing experience Planning Appraisals Planning Statements NPPF knowledge MRTPI Chartered Project Management Section 106 agreements Planning Appeals

FULL DESCRIPTION

Senior/Principal Planner

Location: Sturminster Newton, Dorset, United Kingdom

Salary: £45,000-£60,000

Type: Permanent, Hybrid

Reference: 294487

Job Details

Our client seeks a Senior Planner to join the Professional Services Department in Sturminster Newton, Dorset. This is a client facing, fee earning role, which involves working closely with all departments of the Firm from the early concept stage of a project through to discharge of planning conditions on Residential, Agricultural and Commercial projects across the Wessex region.

Responsibilities

  • Giving initial feasibility advice, completing Planning Appraisals including formulating planning strategies for clients, and dealing with Pre-Application Enquiries
  • Drafting Planning Statements, Design & Access Statements and other supporting documentation
  • Dealing with the preparation, submission and management of the full breadth of application types relating to Residential, Commercial and Agricultural property, including applications for Listed Building Consent
  • Acting as Project Lead including liaison and management of external consultants and working closely with our in house design, rural, commercial and valuations teams
  • Advising on and dealing with planning conditions, Section 106 agreements, Community Infrastructure Levy and other planning obligations
  • Advising on the promotion of development sites for adoption
  • Dealing with the preparation, submission and management of planning appeals

Essential Skills

  • Must have previous client facing experience in a similar role in either the Public or Private sector and must be used to working as part of an interprofessional team, or independently
  • Must have an excellent working knowledge of policy/regulation, NPPF and Local & Neighbourhood Plans affecting our primary areas of operation
  • Must be a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI)

Desirable Skills

  • Ideally, Chartered with 3 years PQE

Rewards

  • A competitive salary dependent on experience plus commission
  • Training and subscriptions of required qualifications
  • Opportunity to establish a client base and progress career
  • Holiday starting at 30 days per year, including bank holidays plus additional annual leave days during Christmas week
  • Long service rewarded with additional holiday days
  • Work based pension scheme
  • Company social and sporting events
  • Free eye tests and contribution towards glasses
  • Enhanced maternity pay
Sign up free — access 45,000+ UK sponsor-licensed jobs