Planning Advisor - National Infrastructure Team - 32405

Planning Advisor - National Infrastructure Team - 32405
2
National
Various
Staff Grade 4
Permanent
Planning
Full Time, Part Time, Compressed Hours
£34,320

08/12/2025, 23:55 hours

Basic Check
Do you want to work for an organisation that values difference and includes everyone?
Then the Environment Agency is the organisation for you!
We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share.

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.

We are recruiting Planning Advisor to ensure environmental issues remain at the heart of major infrastructure development, so the best outcomes for people and wildlife are achieved.

You will be dealing with major infrastructure proposals for primarily as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Proposals (NSIPs), including pre-planning enquiries or planning application consultations. We use professionalism and expertise to protect people, property, and the natural environment - engaging with the Planning Inspectorate/local authorities and developers on the key issues of flood risk, water resources and quality, remediation of contaminated land, and biodiversity.

Work will involve:

• Seeking opportunities to engage early and influence early stages of development proposals
• Providing technical leadership which inspires and motivates the team and colleagues
• Working collaboratively - developing excellent relationships with customers and stakeholders
• Leading internal projects and working groups - achieving integrated solutions that progress continuous improvement.

The Environment Agency is a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. This vacancy also guarantees an incident response role to assist with management of any incident that requires a structured approach working together with partner agencies to protect the public and the environment.
Our new National Infrastructure team sits within Local Operations and works on major infrastructure – working closely with our area teams, allowing flexibility to face workload pressures as they evolve across the country. As part of an exciting new way of working, you will contribute to developing a strong, supportive, dynamic, and agile team working environment. Location is flexible, working in both EA offices and at home, across England, with some travel/overnight stays needed.
You will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge of the UK planning system and relevant legislation, including Town & Country Planning and the Development Consent Order regime/Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
• Ability to deal with/advising on development issues and/or on complex environmental problems
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Communicating strategic and technical issues to a range of audiences
• A proven ability to achieve results and proactively identify and solve problems.

It would be helpful, but not essential, if you had:

• An understanding of the political framework the EA works within
• Project management skills to assist your ability to work flexibly and respond to contesting demands in a challenging but rewarding workload environment
• Membership or demonstration of progression towards membership of a relevant professional body.
For questions relating to this role, please contact darren.dennis@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Interviews are likely to be held virtually around mid-January 2026

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. All staff are required to have an incident role and make themselves available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract additional payments, and full training and alternative working arrangements will be available to support incident roles. Please see candidate pack for more information in relation to Incident Support

You'll be based at an EA office which will be agreed with the successful candidates. However we are adopting new ways of working which allows some flexibility to work from home.
Managing the Agency’s Interaction in the Land Use Planning Process
Please summarise your knowledge, or experience of working within the UK Town & Country Planning system.
Focuses on Customers and Partners
Describe a time when you have provided good customer service, highlighting any benefits or challenges you may have experienced.
Achieves Results
Describe a time when you have been successful in delivering results whilst managing a very demanding workload with competing work pressures
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the  Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

This Vacancy is closed to applications.