32662 - Sustainable Places - Planning Specialist
| Posting date: | 30 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £43,198 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 15 January 2026 |
| Location: | Newcastle |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 5 days per week |
| Company: | Environment Agency |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 32662 |
Summary
Are you passionate about contributing to a more sustainable environment? This is your chance to make a meaningful impact.
We’re seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Environment Agency’s NEA Sustainable Places Team. In this key role, you’ll be providing advice and technical leadership on the Town and Countryside Planning System. You’ll guide how growth and regeneration happen - ensuring developments safeguard communities, promote biodiversity, and protect our environment.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
• Provide technical expertise and guidance on planning applications and planning appeals.
• Manage our input into high-profile developments.
• Influence the preparation and review of Local Plans including relevant policies, evidence base, and infrastructure delivery plans.
• Represent the Environment Agency as an expert-witness at appeals and inquiries.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders and customers, internally and externally, to maintain robust partnerships and influence environmental outcomes.
• Keep up to date on changing legislation/case law/best practice externally.
• Mentor other members of the team on policies, procedures, practices and techniques associated with the Town and Countryside Planning system We embrace diversity, inclusivity, and belonging.
• Deliver training on policies and procedures within your own team, and across other teams, within the Environment Agency
The Environment Agency reflects the communities it serves. We don’t just talk about inclusion - we live it. Every new team member is welcomed and given full support, induction, and the equipment they need to thrive.
Incident response is central to our mission.
Everyone who joins us undertakes training and may support incident response, which could attract additional payments. Full training and flexible working arrangements are provided.
Our North East area has some of the most environmentally dynamic regions in the UK, the work you do here will directly impact people, places, and the planet.
The team
Sustainable Places Team is a friendly, collaborative group working across departments shaping local plan strategies and planning applications, managing the Environment Agency’s interaction with the Planning System in North East England. Our work is high profile aimed to enable sustainable development, improve the environment, communities and economy. Partnering internally and externally with councils, developers, water companies, and Defra, we provide expert environmental advice. By evaluating data and assessments, we influence planning outcomes and internal strategies.
Experience/skills required
The successful candidate will have a professionally recognised planning qualification, and either be a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or be eligible for membership. If not Chartered, you will be expected to gain accreditation as soon as practicable.
Proven experience of:
Outstanding technical knowledge and experience of the land use planning and the marine licencing regime.
Dealing with and advising on development issues and / or on complex environmental problems.
Demonstrable successful influencing.
Communicating strategic and technical issues to a range of audiences.
Working with others to deliver environmental benefits.
How the Environment Agency delivers advice to planning authorities and our partners
You’ll be a skilled advisor on planning issues, taking and creating opportunities to achieve sustainable economic prosperity that protects and enhances our environment.
We will encourage you to keep developing your skills and professional knowledge throughout your career.
We’re seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Environment Agency’s NEA Sustainable Places Team. In this key role, you’ll be providing advice and technical leadership on the Town and Countryside Planning System. You’ll guide how growth and regeneration happen - ensuring developments safeguard communities, promote biodiversity, and protect our environment.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
• Provide technical expertise and guidance on planning applications and planning appeals.
• Manage our input into high-profile developments.
• Influence the preparation and review of Local Plans including relevant policies, evidence base, and infrastructure delivery plans.
• Represent the Environment Agency as an expert-witness at appeals and inquiries.
• Develop relationships with stakeholders and customers, internally and externally, to maintain robust partnerships and influence environmental outcomes.
• Keep up to date on changing legislation/case law/best practice externally.
• Mentor other members of the team on policies, procedures, practices and techniques associated with the Town and Countryside Planning system We embrace diversity, inclusivity, and belonging.
• Deliver training on policies and procedures within your own team, and across other teams, within the Environment Agency
The Environment Agency reflects the communities it serves. We don’t just talk about inclusion - we live it. Every new team member is welcomed and given full support, induction, and the equipment they need to thrive.
Incident response is central to our mission.
Everyone who joins us undertakes training and may support incident response, which could attract additional payments. Full training and flexible working arrangements are provided.
Our North East area has some of the most environmentally dynamic regions in the UK, the work you do here will directly impact people, places, and the planet.
The team
Sustainable Places Team is a friendly, collaborative group working across departments shaping local plan strategies and planning applications, managing the Environment Agency’s interaction with the Planning System in North East England. Our work is high profile aimed to enable sustainable development, improve the environment, communities and economy. Partnering internally and externally with councils, developers, water companies, and Defra, we provide expert environmental advice. By evaluating data and assessments, we influence planning outcomes and internal strategies.
Experience/skills required
The successful candidate will have a professionally recognised planning qualification, and either be a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or be eligible for membership. If not Chartered, you will be expected to gain accreditation as soon as practicable.
Proven experience of:
Outstanding technical knowledge and experience of the land use planning and the marine licencing regime.
Dealing with and advising on development issues and / or on complex environmental problems.
Demonstrable successful influencing.
Communicating strategic and technical issues to a range of audiences.
Working with others to deliver environmental benefits.
How the Environment Agency delivers advice to planning authorities and our partners
You’ll be a skilled advisor on planning issues, taking and creating opportunities to achieve sustainable economic prosperity that protects and enhances our environment.
We will encourage you to keep developing your skills and professional knowledge throughout your career.