Planning Lead - Lincolnshire Reservoir

Salary Circa £65k, salary depending on skills and experience

Permanent, 37 Hours a week

Location:
Peterborough/ London

Anglian Water offers a flexible approach and this role provides you with the opportunity for hybrid working. Your base location will be in our Peterborough office and the project also has a project office in London. There is an expectation of being in either office 2-3 days a week, including our London office.

Anglian Water is delivering one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in our history — the multi‑billion-pound Reservoirs Programme, including two major new water reservoirs in the East of England:
Fens and Lincolnshire.

These nationally significant projects will transform water supply across the region and secure a sustainable future for millions. We’re seeking a Planning Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping the Lincolnshire Reservoir — a career-defining opportunity for an experienced and passionate Town and Country Planner.

• Leading the planning strategy and delivery for the Lincolnshire Reservoir.
• Engaging proactively with host planning authorities.
• Providing expert advice, managing planning risks, and ensuring compliance with national and local policies.
• Working closely within a collaborative, matrix team structure — both within Anglian Water and with external stakeholders.

• Lead the planning workstream for the Lincolnshire Reservoir, working closely with a multi-disciplinary team and reporting to the Head of Stakeholder & Planning.
• Manage outputs from specialist planning consultants to deliver key planning documents, including the Planning Strategy, Planning Statement, Policy Accordance Tables, Statements of Common Ground, and S106 Agreements.
• Provide strategic planning input into the DCO programme, project design, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, and DCO requirements.
• Identify planning risks early, propose mitigation strategies, including alignment with emerging Local Plans.
• Manage and oversee the production and submission of supporting Town and Country Planning Act applications as required.

• Work alongside workstream leads across both reservoir projects to share best practice and manage planning risks consistently.
• Support wider Anglian Water teams on planning-related consultation responses and ensure alignment across related projects and initiatives.

• Represent Anglian Water as the Planning Lead in negotiations with local planning authorities, aiming to resolve potential disagreements early.
• Leading on planning performance agreements with LPAs and statements of common ground.
• Support the negotiation of S106 Agreements and provide planning expertise at key meetings and public consultation events.

• A relevant town planning qualification with extensive experience of dealing with major applications gained in a local planning authority/consultancy.
• Proven track record in leading successful major planning application strategies.
• Experience in dealing with Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and Development Consenting Order applications.
• Chartered Royal Town Planning Institute member or eligibility to join.
• Strong knowledge of the UK planning system including the Development Consent Order (DCO) process.
• Excellent relationship management skills with a collaborative, quality-focused approach.
• Experience presenting at Inquiries or Examinations.
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Skilled negotiator, able to navigate complex stakeholder discussions.
• Strong project management abilities, with excellent organisational skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Full UK driving licence, with flexibility to travel to meetings and site visits.

• Personal private health care
• 26 days annual leave – rising with length of service
• Flexible working
• Competitive pension scheme – Anglian Water double-matches your contributions up to 6%
• Bonus scheme
• Flexible benefits to support your wellbeing and lifestyle

• Be part of a programme with over £500 million of development funding secured and an expected £5 billion construction value post-2028.
• Influence one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the UK water industry.
• Shape a lasting legacy for future generations across the East of England.

If you’re ready to lead planning on a once-in-a-generation project and leave a real legacy, we want to hear from you!

Closing date: 8th June 2025