Planning Lead - Lincolnshire Reservoir

Job Description

Salary Circa £65k, salary depending on skills and experience

Permanent, 37 Hours a week

Location: Peterborough/ London

Anglian Water offers a flexible approach and this role provides you with the opportunity for hybrid working. Your base location will be in our Peterborough office and the project also has a project office in London. There is an expectation of being in either office 2-3 days a week, including our London office.

Be part of a once-in-a-generation project!

Anglian Water is delivering one of the most ambitious infrastructure programmes in our history — the multi-billion-pound Reservoirs Programme, including two major new water reservoirs in the East of England: Fens and Lincolnshire.

These nationally significant projects will transform water supply across the region and secure a sustainable future for millions. We’re seeking a Planning Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping the Lincolnshire Reservoir — a career-defining opportunity for an experienced and passionate Town and Country Planner.

As Planning Lead, you’ll be at the forefront of our Development Consent Order (DCO) application, leading all planning activities alongside a team of experts in design, stakeholder engagement, land acquisition, environment and consenting. You’ll work with our specialist consultants to drive a strategic, coordinated, and proactive approach — ensuring the project is not just approved, but fully fundable and ready to build.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading the planning strategy and delivery for the Lincolnshire Reservoir.

• Engaging proactively with host planning authorities.

• Providing expert advice, managing planning risks, and ensuring compliance with national and local policies.

• Working closely within a collaborative, matrix team structure — both within Anglian Water and with external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Planning Leadership

• Lead the planning workstream for the Lincolnshire Reservoir, working closely with a multi-disciplinary team and reporting to the Head of Stakeholder & Planning.

• Manage outputs from specialist planning consultants to deliver key planning documents, including the Planning Strategy, Planning Statement, Policy Accordance Tables, Statements of Common Ground, and S106 Agreements.

• Provide strategic planning input into the DCO programme, project design, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, and DCO requirements.

• Identify planning risks early, propose mitigation strategies, including alignment with emerging Local Plans

• Manage and oversee the production and submission of supporting Town and Country Planning Act applications as required.

Internal Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work alongside workstream leads across both reservoir projects to share best practice and manage planning risks consistently.

• Support wider Anglian Water teams on planning-related consultation responses and ensure alignment across related projects and initiatives.

External Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent Anglian Water as the Planning Lead in negotiations with local planning authorities, aiming to resolve potential disagreements early.

• Leading on planning performance agreements with LPAs and statements of common ground

• Support the negotiation of S106 Agreements and provide planning expertise at key meetings and public consultation events.

What does it take to be Planning Lead?

• A relevant town planning qualification with extensive experience of dealing with major applications gained in a local planning authority/consultancy.

• Proven track record in leading successful major planning application strategies

• Experience in dealing with Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects and Development Consenting Order applications

• Chartered Royal Town Planning Institute member or eligibility to join

• Strong knowledge of the UK planning system including the Development Consent Order (DCO) process.

• Excellent relationship management skills with a collaborative, quality-focused approach.

• Experience presenting at Inquiries or Examinations.

• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Skilled negotiator, able to navigate complex stakeholder discussions.

• Strong project management abilities, with excellent organisational skills.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).

• Full UK driving licence, with flexibility to travel to meetings and site visits.

As a valued employee, you’ll be entitled to:

• Personal private health care

• 26 days annual leave – rising with length of service

• Flexible working

• Competitive pension scheme – Anglian Water double-matches your contributions up to 6%

• Bonus scheme

• Flexible benefits to support your wellbeing and lifestyle

Why join us?

• Be part of a programme with over £500 million of development funding secured and an expected £5 billion construction value post-2028.

• Influence one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the UK water industry.

• Shape a lasting legacy for future generations across the East of England.

If you’re ready to lead planning on a once-in-a-generation project and leave a real legacy, we want to hear from you!

Closing date: 12th August 2025

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