Town Planning and consents officer

Company Description

United Infrastructure is a dynamic and rapidly expanding business, focused on delivering critical infrastructure projects, across the utility and social infrastructure sectors.

Our team of highly skilled and hardworking specialists deliver innovative solutions to the complex challenges our clients face.

Our company is split into two business areas:

Utility Infrastructure –
Our team of Utility Infrastructure specialists design, build and maintain critical water, energy (gas), power and telecoms infrastructure, for the UK’s largest network owners and operators.

Social Infrastructure -
Our team of Social Infrastructure specialists revitalise homes and communities by carrying out a wide range of work, from retrofit to refurbishment, and maintenance.

Job Description

United Infrastructure is recruiting a Town Planning and Consents Officer to join our Major Projects team on a 2-year fixed term contract, supporting the development and delivery of a Carbon Capture Pipeline project in the North West of England.

The project is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) and is being progressed under the Development Consent Order (DCO) regime. This role will be dedicated to this single project and will play a critical part in managing town planning, environmental consents, and third-party approvals required for its successful delivery.

You will work closely with internal project teams, external consultants, and statutory bodies to ensure all planning and consent requirements are secured, maintained, and complied with throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Town Planning & DCO Consents Management

• Support and, where appropriate, lead the management of town planning and environmental consents for the Carbon Capture Pipeline project.

• Coordinate and manage specialist consultant inputs related to planning, environmental assessments, and consent submissions.

• Support the preparation, submission, and ongoing management of the Development Consent Order (DCO) and associated approvals.

Planning & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with relevant town planning legislation, environmental regulations, and DCO requirements throughout the project lifecycle.

• Monitor consent conditions, planning obligations, and compliance milestones, ensuring these are embedded into project delivery.

Stakeholder & Statutory Engagement

• Act as a key point of contact with local planning authorities, statutory consultees, landowners, and other third-party stakeholders.

• Support and lead engagement activities to facilitate effective planning outcomes and timely consent delivery.

Documentation, Reporting & Governance

• Maintain accurate and auditable records of all planning consents, approvals, and correspondence.

• Prepare reports, briefings, and planning documentation to support project governance and decision-making.

Project Integration & Coordination

• Work closely with project managers, engineers, and environmental specialists to integrate planning and consent requirements into the project programme and design.

• Identify and manage planning-related risks, dependencies, and constraints affecting project delivery.

Team Collaboration & Leadership

• Provide planning and consent advice to the wider project team.

• Act as the lead for consents management and third-party engagement for the project, ensuring clear ownership and accountability.

Qualifications

• Background in town planning, infrastructure planning, or major project consenting.

• Experience working on NSIPs, DCO projects, or large linear infrastructure schemes is highly desirable.

• Strong understanding of the UK planning system and environmental consenting processes.

• Confident engaging with statutory bodies and managing consultant teams.

• Organised, proactive, and comfortable working within a complex project environment.

Additional Information