The Friday Five 05.10.18
A round-up of five of the best, most interesting, significant or unusual jobs on Planner Jobs this week.
1. MINE'S A LATTE
What?
Senior planner, Framptons Town Planning.
Where?
In a converted town house close to the town centre in Banbury, Oxfordshire. There's also an office in Leamington Spa.
The job
"This is a significant opportunity to be involved in a wide variety of schemes, including new settlements and large-scale employment, through the employment plan process, planning applications and delivery on the ground."
Framptons is a small consultancy spread over two sites and provides planning consultancy to multi-national corporations, volume house builders, major landowners, local authorities, government bodies and individuals. They're looking for a senior planner with a minimum of 2-3 years experience and offering an attractive package.
Banbury itself is a medium sized historic market town with a population of around 47,000, roughly midway between Oxford and Birmingham and close to the Cotswolds AONB.
Fun fact
Banbury is home to (allegedly) the world's largest coffee-processing facility, built in 1964 and currently owned by Jacobs Douwe Egberts. In Spring 2010, a truckload of Kenco Coffee was stolen by a driver who conned his way into the plant.
2. MAKING MOV(I)ES IN CROYDON
What?
Multiple roles with the planning team at Croydon Council, including deputy team leader, senior planners and planners.
Where?
Croydon, south east London - at the very modern glass and steel council building in central Croydon.
The job
"You will work in a vibrant and busy development management service and will have the opportunity to deal with a wide variety of planning applications, appeals and pre application enquiries
"We would welcome applications from across our career grade from newly qualified planners to, those looking to expand on their experience. Due to a high number of major applications received across theborough we are also keen to recruit staff with experience in dealing with major schemes."
Noted for its volume of tall buildings, Croydon is one of the largest commercial districts outside London and undergoing significant redevelopment, with billions being spent on new homes, shops and offices. Good rail connections link Croydon with London and the south coast, and there's good access to the North Downs, too.
Fun fact
Though Croydon was the setting for cheesy 70s domestic sitcom Terry and June, it has serious form as a location for film and television (perhaps because of its tall buildings). To date, it's been a location for Peep Show, The Bill, The Dark Knight Rises, The Da Vinci Code and Terry Gilliam's Brazil among others.
3. SHOCK OF THE NEW (TOWN)
What?
Senior planning officer (development management), Harlow Council.
Where?
The Civic Centre, a modern office block in central Harlow, Essex.
The job
"Harlow is entering a new era of growth and we require a senior planner to help us shape the future of the town. The district and surrounding area is undergoing significant new development and regeneration as part of its transformation into a Garden Town... You will be required to deal with major residential and commercial development schemes as well as smaller scale matters, appeals and enforcement."
Harlow, of course, is one of a raft of new towns built just after the Second World War and epitomises the then-contemporary vision of what a modern town should be, with green wedges, an extensive cycling network and self-supporting neighbourhoods equipped with their own shopping precincts, community facilities and pubs. Plus ca change?
Fun fact
Harlow's master plan was drawn up in 1947 by Sir Frederick Gibberd, who invited many of the UK's leading post-war architects to design buildings in the town, including Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, Leonard Manasseh, Michael Neylan, E C P Monson, Gerard Goalen, Maxwell Fry, Jane Drew, Graham Dawbarn, H. T. Cadbury-Brown and William Crabtree. Sadly, much of their work has since been demolished.
4. NORTH EAST SCOTLAND? 'SNOW PROBLEM
What?
Development obligation team leader, Aberdeen City Council.
Where?
The magnificent Marischal College, reputedly the world's second largest granite building.
The job
"We are looking for an experienced and dynamic individual who can help shape and manage the developer obligation process at Aberdeen City Council. The post holder will work across the council to develop policies, lead engagement with the development industry and engage with community groups to secure and manage developer contributions relation to planning applications."
Aberdeen is experiencing significant growth, with a recent city region deal bringing in stacks of cash to regenerate the city centre There's also a cool £1 billion being spent on road and rail improvements. Oh, and its just a hop and skip from the stunning Cairngorms National Park. What more could you want?
Fun fact
Aberdeen, statistically, is the coldest city in the UK. At Winter Solstice, the length of the day averages 6 hours and 41 minutes between sunrise and sunset. Around summer solstice, the days will be around 18 hours long – and the nautical twilight lasts the entire night.
5. PLANNERS NEVER EVER EVER SHALL BE SLAVES!
What?
Strategic planning assistant, Charterhouse Strategic Land, part of Charterhouse Property Group
Where?
Hammersmith, London - just off the main shopping street and a short walk from Ravenscourt Park tube.
The job
"To identify new strategic landholding opportunities for the company to enable the continued expansion of the portfolio" and "identifying, investigating and appraising new strategic land opportunities".
Charterhouse Strategic Land promotes land through the planning system for residential and mixed-use development, covering the south of England and the Midlands. A small subdivision of the larger Charterhouse Property Group, it's a small team offering opportunity for advancement.
Hammersmith itself is a major commercial district in west London on the north bank of the Thames neighbouring Kensington, Fulham and Chiswick. Having been described as "an arty riverside district" it's home to the Riverside Studios cinema and performance space; the Eventim Apollo, famous riverside pubs and its home to a sizeable contingent of London's Polish population.
Fun fact
The words to Rule, Britannia! were written at The Dove, a Grade II listed pub on Hammersmith riverside with strong historical associations with artists and writers. Poet and playwright James Thomson was living above the pub when he composed the lines as part of a longer work in 1740. Other writers to frequent the hostelry include Ernest Hemingway, Dylan Thomas and Graham Greene.
