The Friday Five 06.05.22
Have we got planning jobs for you? Yes, yes we have. Just the five, though. Here you go.
1. PLANNER, CITY OF FREDERICTON
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
The job: “The City of Fredericton is the capital of the Atlantic Canadian province of New Brunswick. Nestled in a beautiful valley on the banks of the St. John River, it’s surrounded by forests and agricultural land, and close to diverse marine environments. Fredericton is also one of Atlantic Canada’s fastest growing cities, with two universities, thriving IT industries, one of Canada’s most diverse economies and an international airport which give Fredericton many of the advantages of big city living in a compact, friendly and affordable small town package. The City places strong focus on planned urban infill and strategic suburban development and has a rich history of innovative land use planning.
“The city is accepting applications for as many as four planners in the planning and development department. We are looking for planning professionals with a passion for their work who thrive in a fast-paced, fun, and very busy environment. You need to enjoy working with the development community and citizens to build a great city. To be successful in one of these positions, you need great interpersonal skills, you need to be comfortable leading public engagement exercises, speaking and presenting in public and have a gift for the written word. These positions require an individual who takes initiative, exercises tact, discretion, and has sound judgement.
“The skills detailed above are essential for one of these positions. We will give special consideration to planners with expertise and interest in one or more of the following sub-disciplines:
- Neighbourhood policy planning;
- Heritage;
- Parks and open space planning; and
- Affordable housing.
“Recruitment for these positions is taking place in Canada and the United Kingdom. Interviews may be held In the UK if there is sufficient interest or may take place virtually via Microsoft Teams.”
Fun fact: At 391 metres, Hartland Covered Bridge in New Brunswick is the longest covered bridge in the world - and New Brunswick itself is pretty much the ‘home’ of covered bridges. Even here, though, they are reducing in numbers: in 1958 there were thought to be 340 covered bridges in New Brunswick alone; today just 58 remain.
But what is a covered bridge and why are they falling out of fashion? Once common, and mostly found in slightly remote places, a covered bridge is a timber truss bridge with a roof, decking and siding creating a complete enclosure that protects the bridge’s structure from the weather. While an uncovered wooden bridge typically has a lifespan of about 20 years, a covered one should last 100.
And herein lies the source of their demise. Covered bridges were useful but not that useful: with low ceiling height, single lanes and weight restrictions, they were never going to survive the advent of better materials. As cheaper wrought iron and cast iron became readily available, these became the go-to for bridge construction in out of the way places. Wooden covered bridges simply became less economic and useful - and, as they fell into disrepair, they were replaced by more modern constructions.
Nevertheless, New Brunswick is proud of its remaining covered bridges and conservation groups campaign to retain them. They are known popularly as ‘kissing bridges’ - by tradition, young couples travelling across the bridge on their horse drawn carriage would stop somewhere in the middle (under cover, obviously) for a kiss and a cuddle before continuing on their way.
Hartland Covered Bridge, which crosses the St John River, was built relatively late in 1901. Thought the longest such bridge today, others have been longer - notably the Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge in Pennsylvania, USA, which measured 1,524 metres until its destruction during the American Civil War in 1863.
2. SENIOR PLANNING ASSOCIATE, MCCARTHY STONE
Location: Coventry/Hybrid
The job: “We are looking to expand our talented team and recruit an individual who will provide professional support, assistance and planning in advising on site acquisition, the optimisation of development opportunities and the securing of the best possible planning permissions as quickly as possible.
“Reporting to the divisional development director, you will have the opportunity to develop your expertise in the delivery of key business performance targets. Working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment you will devise and progress planning strategies to meet strict deadlines crucial to facilitate the smooth and timely delivery of planning applications.
“Responsibilities will include:
- Preparing analysis of planning policies for feasibility studies for land purchase
- Arranging pre-application meetings with local authorities on development opportunities
- Managing preparation, submission and negotiation of projects for planning permission
- Advising on Section 106 obligations.”
Fun fact: All modern bicycles are descended from the original Rover Safety Bicycle, designed and built by John Kemp Starley in Coventry in 1885.
Coventry was an important early centre for cycle manufacture in the UK and was particularly notable for the work of James Starley (John Kemp Starley’s uncle) who had refined the early French ‘boneshaker’ design and then moved into building high wheelers (or Penny Farthings as they are better known).
High wheelers, though quick, were extremely awkward to mount, dismount and to control, and really quite dangerous. From the 1870s, manufacturers looked for ways to bring the rider closer to the ground so that he or she could cycle more safely and conveniently.
Starley, who had worked for his uncle, cracked it with the safety bicycle. This new design featured two identically sized 26 inch wheels, a diamond frame and a chain system that transferred power from the pedal cranks to the rear wheel. In other words, the same as we see in modern bikes - it's a design so perfect that it has only required refinement and not change.
The safety bicycle was, to put it mildly, an immediate sensation and the Rover was quickly exported all over the word. Rover itself eventually moved into motorcycle and car manufacture and Coventry became even more of a hub (pun intended) for the bicycle industry; by the 1890s it was known as ‘bicycle city’ and was home to brands such as Bayliss and Thomas, Coventry Eagle, Rudge-Whitworth, Swift and Triumph.
By the end of the Second World War there were only two Coventry bicycle makers remaining - Associated Cycle Manufacturers and Coventry Eagle.
Nevertheless, Coventry’s role in the history of the bicycle is rightly celebrated at the Coventry Transport Museum which has one of the finest collections of cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles in the world. More recently, Coventry was among the first British cities to appoint a cycling Mayor. Adam Tranter has now gone on to become the walking and cycling commissioner for the whole of the West Midlands.
3. PLANNING AND ENABLING OFFICER, STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Location: Stafford, Staffordshire
The job: “Staffordshire County Council is seeking a dynamic, motivated and flexible individual who will support the facilitation of new plan-led investment for Staffordshire to meet the needs of our residents and businesses.
“You will have the opportunity to gain experience across a diverse range of work areas including:
- Enabling through monitoring and commenting on Neighbourhood Plans, District/Borough Local Plans, and monitoring and review of our own Minerals and Waste Local Plans.
- Delivery through the determination of planning applications and submissions for mineral and waste related development, and the council’s own developments.
- Regulation through the monitoring of compliance with planning permissions granted for mineral and waste developments, investigation of unauthorised mineral or waste development.
- Economic development through research, collation and analysis of secondary economic data to support policy making, project/programme development.
“The role is ideal for a candidate seeking to establish a career in planning and/or economic development or as an experienced planner/economic analyst wishing to broaden their skills within a progressive planning service covering an area boasting extensive countryside along with historic market towns and villages.”
Fun fact: Prince’s Park in Burntwood, Staffordshire, is officially the smallest park in the UK and claims to be the smallest in the world - though this assertion is disputed.
The tiny triangular park, which sits on a traffic island, measures barely 135m², and you could apparently fit 10,518 Prince’s Parks into one Hyde Park (who works this stuff out??). It was created to commemorate the marriage of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863 and, though definitions of what a park is are vague, considers itself a park because it is fenced off and contains a bench and three trees.
Guinness World Records has declared it Britain’s smallest park (despite one or two other claimants to this title), though the world's smallest park since 1971 has been Mills End Park in Portland, Oregon, USA, which is less than a third of a square metre. It’s at this point that definitions of what a park is - or is not - become an issue. Mills End Park was originally merely a hole in the ground for a lamp post that was never installed. It became a 'park' when a local journalist, Dick Fagan, planted some flowers in the hole and declared it a park.
Burntwood’s MP, the extravagantly coiffeured Michael Fabricant, is apparently somewhat put out by this and has been vocal amongst campaigners arguing that Mills End Park cannot possibly be a park and that Prince’s Park is the true smallest park in the world. Residents of Hastings and Darlington may contest this claim, however - both towns have ornamentally planted areas called parks that are less than 35m2. The lesson? If you call it a park it’s a park and it’s hard to argue that it’s not. Who wants to be a Guinness World Record holder anyway?
4. PLANNING OFFICER/GRADUATE PLANNING OFFICER, ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL
Location: Dunoon, Argyll and Bute (potential for hybrid working)
The job: “This is an exciting opportunity to help shape one of the most beautiful and diverse regions of Scotland. Argyll and Bute stretches from the Central Belt encompassing large towns such as Dunoon and Helensburgh right through to the west coast and beyond, taking in Oban, Lochgilphead and Campbeltown, as well as 23 inhabited islands.
“Development interest ranges from large scale windfarms and aquaculture to housing, commerce and retail and minor householder developments. As a planning officer you will have the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of projects and you will be responsible for processing planning applications and enforcement/monitoring of development in and around Dunoon, as well as the wider locality of Bute and Cowal, and Helensburgh and Lomond.
“We expect the post holder to be responsible for a diverse caseload, including dealing primarily with householder and local developments and opportunity for involvement in major development applications, pre-application enquiries, planning enforcement, monitoring, appeals, local reviews and other related projects.”
Fun fact: Each August, Dunoon in Argyll and Bute hosts the Cowal Highland Gathering, which claims to be the largest Highland games in the world (as opposed to merely Scotland). Each year, more than 20,000 spectators and around 3,500 competitors descend on the town to enjoy a weekend of competitive piping, bagpiping, Highland dancing and sport (yes, it includes caber tossing but also other feats of strength and more ‘conventional’ sports such as cross country running and wrestling).
Any suggestion that Highland games are some kind of longstanding tradition that can be traced back into the murky mists of time is misleading. They are, like many other British ‘traditions’, Victorian inventions. The first record of an organised Highland games in Dunoon is from 1871, the same year that the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban started.
Though attempts have been made to trace an early origin for Highland games, the evidence is thin, to say the least. Historians have clung to references to things like the 11th century King Malcolm III summoning men to race up Craig Choinnich with the aim of finding the fastest runner in Scotland to be his royal messenger(not really a ‘games’ though, is it?). An early 18th century document suggest that at least one of the Scottish clans may have engaged in martial competitions.
But the ‘modern’ Highland games are definitely 19th century in origin and their emergence followed the early 19th century Jacobite rebellions and the subsequent bans on Highland dress. In time they evolved beyond athletic competitions into celebrations of cultural identity, including among the Scottish diaspora in places like Canada and the USA. Canada may even have more annual Highland games taking place than Scotland.
5. SPECIALIST DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT - PLANNING (MULTIPLE POSTS), SOUTH SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Location: South Somerset
The job: “We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated Planners to join our forward thinking and dynamic development management department. We are an ambitious authority looking to deliver growth and provide innovative and high quality developments.
“Being part of our specialist team, you will have a varied caseload of interesting and complex planning applications. You should possess a knowledge of the relevant technical guidance and current legislation, being able to demonstrate professional assessment skills applicable to more complex and technically challenging development proposals.
We are looking for talented applicants who can demonstrate an adaptable and flexible approach, coupled with an ability to work on your own initiative. You will need to be organised and self-motivated but also a committed team player.
“A key part of the Grade 8 role will be supporting the lead specialist whilst mentoring and supporting other team members, and dealing with complex major applications, providing opportunities to masterplan our key market towns. You will lead at committee meetings and represent the authority at planning appeals.”
Fun fact: Yeovil was a centre of the glovemaking industry and for some centuries it was the town’s major employer - from the 1700s to the 1900s thousands of people were employed in the trade, before a postwar decline under pressure from cheap imports from overseas.
Leather trades were clearly important to the town from quite early in its history and glovemaking in the area was first recorded in 1349, when the visiting Bishop of Bath and Wells was assaulted by two skinners, two tanners and a pair of glovers (we know this because of the men’s surnames - Skynnare, Tannere and Glovere).
But the production of woollen goods was the town’s major industry until the 15th century, when increased competition in the cloth industry generated a decline. From here, glovemaking came to the fore. In 1727 Daniel Defore passed through the town and recorded that “its main manufacture at this time is the making of gloves”.
By the early 1800s there were 36 glove manufacturers in Yeovil. So important was the industry that many of the leading business owners were among the first town commissioners elected to improve living and working conditions in the Yeovil. The industry continued to grow and peaked with a post First World War boom. From there it was downhill: the government lifted restrictions on cheap German imports and the USA imposed tariffs on imports; meanwhile, the aircraft industry took off and offered much better paid employment to townsfolk.
Today, just one glovemaker remains - Pittards. Nevertheless, the industry is recalled in the nickname of the town’s football club. Yeovil Town FC are known as ‘The Glovers’.
Photo credits | GVictoria, Shutterstock; iStock; ASTA Concept, Shutterstock; iStock; Gary Perkin, Shutterstock
