Principal Planning Lawyer

Principal Lawyer – Planning and Highways

£51,356 – £56,494 + £3,000 market supplement | Hybrid working

This is a senior in-house role within a large local authority legal service, offering the chance to work on a wide range of planning and highways matters that directly shape places, infrastructure and communities.

The role sits within a specialist planning and highways team and combines high-quality technical work with opportunities to develop leadership skills.

You’ll join a dedicated Planning and Highways legal team advising on planning, highways, rights of way and related environmental matters. The team supports ambitious regeneration, infrastructure and sustainability objectives and works closely with planning officers, highways colleagues and elected members.

It’s a supportive and collaborative team environment, with a strong emphasis on practical, solutions-focused advice.

You’ll be one of the lead lawyers in the team, providing advice on a broad mix of planning and highways work. Alongside your caseload, you’ll have scope to support junior lawyers and develop your management and leadership capability over time. The caseload will include:

• Section 106 and Section 278 agreements
• Complex and routine planning and highways advice
• Planning enforcement and public law matters
• Public inquiries and hearings
• Advising officers and elected members on risk, governance and decision-making

• A qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX lawyer
• An experienced planning lawyer, operating at a senior level
• Confident advising on complex planning matters and working with committees and members
• Interested in broadening your experience into highways, public rights of way and wider local government law (or already experienced in these areas)
• Someone who enjoys mentoring and supporting others, even if you’ve not formally managed before

• Hybrid working
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• 27.5 days annual leave, rising to 32.5 days after five years, plus bank holidays
• Generous family-friendly policies
• Health and wellbeing support services
• Travel, parking and cycle benefits

• Contact Nik Stoate at Venn Group