The Friday Five 07.12.18
A round-up of five of the best, most interesting, significant or unusual jobs on Planner Jobs this week.
1. DO YOU WANNA BE IN MY GANG MY GANG MY GANG?
What?
Planning Adviser, National Trust.
Where?
Chilterns Hub located in High Wycombe. However, you will work with and travel to a number of properties across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and West London.
The job
"Leading on planning matters across much of the region’s portfolio of properties, you’ll provide expert advice, with a strong focus on heritage and conservation, on everything from local planning to development management and major infrastructure proposals. You will be able to tackle a wide range of issues, from external proposals affecting listed buildings, protected landscapes and urban green spaces to assisting the National Trust with planning aspects of conserving and developing the potential of our special places."
Founded in 1895, the National Trust is one of the UK's biggest landowners and a guardian of some of the most valued buildings and estates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It's also Britain's biggest membership organisation.
Fun fact
From 1930-47 a group of 'masked maidens' who styled themselves Ferguson's Gang engaged in a series of publicity seeking stunts to raise funds for the National Trust. The group, who hid their identities with masks and pseudonyms such as Bill Stickers, denounced 'ugly development' and enabled the Trust to buy historic buildings in Surrey and the Isle of Wight, as well as a stretch of Cornish coastline. Recently, their exploits have been turned into a musical which debuted in Guildford in August this year.
2. A JOB, JUST SO
What?
Planning officer, development management, Torbay Council, in Torquay, Devon.
Where?
The handsome early 20th century town hall in central torquay The Town Hall in Torquay, built in the English Renaissance style.
The job
"Working in our fast paced, innovative, and supportive development management team ,you will be keen to facilitate growth and regeneration in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, and deliver sustainable development in accordance with our adopted local plan. The council has serious ambitions to build on the regeneration and investment already happening in the bay including a town centre regeneration programme and a South Devon Link Road."
Torbay, in south Devon, spans the towns of Torquay, Paington and Brixham around a natural harbour that has given it the name 'the English Riviera'. It's close to Dartnoor National Park, the city of Exeter and a coastline that is designated an AONB.
Fun fact
Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book and the Just So Stories (amid much else) spent two unhappy years from 1900-1902 living in Rock House in Torquay. Despite its excellent location, handsome design and light and airy rooms, Kipling couldn't escape an inexplicable sense of unease and foreboding, which he blamed on poor 'feng shui'. The writer later turned the experience into a short ghost story, The House Surgeon.
3. FLOCK IT, LET'S GO TO CHELTENHAM
What?
Head of planning, Cheltenham Borough Council, Glos.
Where?
The borough's Georgian grade II listed offices in central Cheltenham.
The job
"As head of planning you will play a key role in shaping Cheltenham, balancing our strong emphasis on growth with the need to conserve and enhance our rich heritage and cultural offer. We will look to you to lead the team to deliver an excellent, coordinated range of planning and development services to residents and businesses, working with our partners and with the community to secure consensus on future planning and deliver high quality outcomes. Under your leadership the team will drive our ambitious place making agenda, deliver consistent performance improvement and provide an outstanding service to our customers."
A spa town on the edge of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is considered the most complete Regency town in Britain. Nowadays it's a thriving settlement with a varied economy, noted for its range of cultural festivals through the year - not to mention the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival, a mainstay of the horse racing calendar.
Fun fact
Cheltenham allegedly owes its existence as a spa town to a flock of pigeons. The story goes that local noticed that a particular flock were notably plump and healthy. These birds were often seen pecking at a field on the edge of the village. Closer inspection revealed a mineral spring, which was later exploited by a former pirate, Henry Skillicorne. The town crest now includes three pigeons, naturally.
4. RUN TO THE HILLS!
What?
Lead neighbourhood planner (p/t), Bassetlaw District Council, Notts.
Where?
Newly refurbished offices close to central Worksop, Nottinghamshire, just around the corner from the cinema.
The job
"You will be the lead officer supporting neighbourhood plan groups across the district and ensuring that they effectively contribute to the development plan for the district in conjunction with the district local plan. You must have a thorough knowledge of neighbourhood planning legislation and procedures."
Bassetlaw is the northernmost district in Nottinghamshire, a the edge of Sherwood Forest. A mixture of urban and rural environments, its main settlements are Worksop and Retford. Formerly a coal mining town, Worksop has become something of a centre for distribution and local manufacturing companies.
Fun fact
Worksop's most famous son (arguably) is modern day Renaissance man Bruce Dickinson. Known chiefly as the vocalist for heavy metal band Iron Maiden, Dickinson is also a commercial airline pilot, a novelist, a broadcaster and an international standard fencer who was once ranked 7th in Britain. He's also found time to create a popular beer and set up two successful businesses offering pilot training and fencing equipment. Some people just have success genes, don't they?
5. PARK HERE
What?
Principal development plan officers, Birmingham City Council.
Where?
The city council offices in central Birmingham, West Midlands.
The job
"Joining a development planning team, you’ll bring about transformational change by delivering the full range of local planning services and initiatives. This will include overseeing planning and regeneration frameworks as well as ensuring stakeholders are engaged from development to delivery."
Birmingham, in case you don't know, is Britain's second most populous city, after London, and a major commercial and cultural centre at the heart of England. It's undergoing huge city centre regeneration, not least because of the anticipated arrival of HS2, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the city's bid to attract big business.
Fun fact
Birmingham apparently has more parks – 571 – than any other European city, totalling more than 3,500 hectares of public open space. The largest, Sutton Park, covers 971 ha in the north of the city, is Europe's largest urban park and a National Nature Reserve. So there you go.
