Principal Planner Town Planning; Infrastructure Planning

Job Summary

WSP is an award‑winning consultancy employing the largest number of chartered town planners in the UK, operating across the infrastructure and property markets. In December 2025 the company was awarded the RTPI’s Planning Consultancy of the Year for excellence in multidisciplinary project delivery and community engagement. The Infrastructure Planning Team is a leading provider of consenting services for energy, renewables, nuclear, net‑zero, water, rail, transport, and aviation projects.

We support major and nationally significant infrastructure projects across the UK, working with statutory bodies and stakeholders to secure consent and approvals under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning Act 2008, Transport and Works Act Order, and other relevant statutes.

Our key clients include National Grid (Great Grid Partnership), National Gas (Project Union), Nuclear Waste Services, EET Fuels, Eni UK, SSE, Scottish Power Renewables, Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, and others.

• Lead preparation of Town & Country Planning Act applications for infrastructure projects across the UK.
• Support and lead on consenting inputs for major infrastructure projects (DCOs, DNSs, TWAOs, etc.).
• Provide sound technical advice to clients and support the management of their consenting requirements, demonstrating awareness of clients’ expectations and needs.
• Work and liaise with statutory bodies and stakeholders on behalf of clients to help deliver projects.
• Lead and engage with teams across a variety of disciplines, providing technical oversight.
• Understand project and team roles and actively support and contribute to achievement, building positive relationships within the team.
• Proactively engage in developing own knowledge and skills to build ability and the team’s internal knowledge base.
• Support work‑winning opportunities in line with WSP’s Growth Strategy, contributing to identifying opportunities and to proposals.
• Be aware of project finances and demonstrate project management experience, ideally within a consultancy environment.
• Degree‑level qualification in town planning (or equivalent).
• Member of (or eligible for) the RTPI.