Town Planning Lead - Phase 2b

As a Town Planning Lead - Phase 2b you will be responsible for managing all town planning activities on the Phase 2 through Bill preparation and the Parliamentary process. On Royal Assent the Town Planning Lead will be technical client for town planning matters on Phase 2. The Lead will be required to work across directorates, provide advice and leadership on construction and delivery of the railway, hybrid Bill negotiations, the Bill planning regime, regeneration and growth, contract requirements and stakeholder engagement. The Lead may also be required to work on the environmental assessment of Phase 2b you will manage town planning activities within a specific geographic area of the Phase 2 route.

This role is within the Operations and Infrastructure Management Directorate (OIMD) which develops the programme specifications and requirements and provides the technical authority to the HS2 organisation and acts as the internal client to the HS2 delivery units.

About the role:

• Manage the town planners working on Phase 2b to ensure correct and timely town planning advice is provided to HS2 Ltd and its consultants and contractors;
• Lead and manage technical town planning engagement with planning authorities on along the Phase 2b line of route;
• Manage town planning into the hybrid Bill process such as negotiations, the preparation of evidence and petition response documents;
• Supporting the head of town planning in the development and settling of the Phase 2b EMRs;
• Working with designers and the stakeholder team input into masterplanning work and lead responses to planning briefs and policy documents;
• In time for the commencement of construction work with Phase 2b Directorate to develop a consents management and implement processes to ensure a consistent approach across the geographic delivery areas, advising on the Bill planning regime, engaging with stakeholders and establishing processes to manage the review and submission of planning consents to local planning authorities;
• Set up process for the review and submission of Schedule [17] requests for approval, as required to support senior town planning managers;
• Support and liaise with Phase b Environment and OIMD Environment to ensure the requirements of Section [20] of the Act are met with regard to environmental effects;
• Work with the town planners in Phase 1 to ensure a consistent approach to planning between Phases. Work with planners in in Phase 2b to ensure a consistent approach to planning within Phase 2b;
• Work with Phase 2 Directorate to ensure third parties implementing HS2 Act powers are subject to appropriate consent requirements which are met;
• Work with the Commercial Directorate in taking forward proposals for over site and adjacent site development at Phase 2b station locations;
• Liaise with Department for Transport and Department for Communities and Local Government on the implementation of the Act planning regime;
• Lead town planning input into procurement.

About You:

• Significant town planning experience ideally gained through infrastructure planning, dealing with major applications or appeals under the Planning Acts, Transport and Works Act Orders, hybrid Bill, IPC or DCO in the public and/or private sector;
• Proven written and verbal communication skills and the aptitude to rationally explain, explore and discuss town planning issues;
• Proven knowledge of regeneration schemes, involving over site and surrounding commercial development associated with rail stations;
• Understanding of the consenting process for major UK projects, including hybrid Act planning processes;
• Experience of the preparation of town planning policy and masterplans .

It is expected that you will actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

About Us:

High Speed 2 (HS2) will be the UK's new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the new scheme will shorten journey times between a number of Britain's major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.

HS2 Ltd is a safety critical organisation with safety being one of our core values. Employees are required to ensure reasonable care of their own and others' health and safety by taking personal responsibility for working to the HS2 'Safe at Heart' programme principles and following safe working procedures at all times.