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The Friday Five 16.08.19

Published on: 16 Aug 2019

A round-up of the best, most interesting and unusual jobs on Planner Jobs this week

Croydon Aerodrome [square]1. COME FLY WITH ME

What?

Senior planning officers, London Borough of Croydon.

Where?

Council HQ is Bernard Weatherill House, a shiny modern edifice on the edge of the town centre.

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.

"Croydon Council is an award winning Council. At this year’s RTPI Local Planning Awards we won the award for increased housing delivery and a development in the borough was awarded planning permission of the year."

Croydon is a large town in south London and one of the largest commercial districts outside central London, with a thriving shopping district and night-time economy. Lying on the transport corridor between London and the south coast, it's as easy to get to Brighton as to central London, and it's just a hop and a skip from the beautiful North Downs.

Fun fact

Croydon was home to the UK's first international passenger airport. Opening in 1920, it handled more passengers, cargo and mail than any other UK airport at the time. Innovations at the airport included the world's first purpose-built passenger terminal and the first air traffic control tower. It was also the operating base of Britain's first national airline, Imperial Airways.

The airport continued to serve passengers until 1959. Nowadays, Airport House business centre sits on the site of the old airfield, and a the air traffic control tower has become a visitor centre. 

Find out more and apply

Alston Moor golf course [square]2. A HOLE IN ONE!

What?

Planning officer (development management), Eden District Council.

Where?

Penrith Town Hall is a handsome grade II listed Edwardian civic building adapted from two 18th century town houses in the classical style. A £2.2m extension is scheduled.  It's in Cumbria, by the way.

The job

"We are seeking an enthusiastic and proactive person, who will handle their own caseload of planning applications, pre application files and planning enforcement files. As part of a supportive, hard-working and motivated team you should have previous experience of working in planning, have excellent communication skills and be able to manage and prioritise your workload to meet deadlines."

Eden District Council is based in Penrith, Cumbria, between the Lake District National Park and the North Pennines AONB. Thought the eighth largest district council in England, it has the lowest population density. Largely rural, it covers a number of villages and small market towns, and also parts of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

Fun fact

Alston Moor, at 450 metres feet above sea level, is home to England's highest golf course. Although the club itself was founded in 1905, it occupied courses at several locations over the ensuing decades. The current site, Hermitage Farm, was bought in 1969.

The course, considered challenging, is just 15 miles south of Hadrian's Wall and offers spectacular views o the North Pennines AONB. 

Find out more and apply

Siouxsie Sioux [square]3. A PRETTY VACANCY

What?

Head of planning policy and strategy, London Borough of Bromley.

Where?

Bromley Civic Centre is a purpose-built complex on the edge of the town centre in Bromley, south east London.

The job

"This is a full time post managing the planning policy and strategy team in this large and varied outer London borough. The team is based within the planning section of the council’s housing, planning and regeneration department and comprises professional planners, covering the full range of planning policy topic areas, as well as support staff. It will also include an infrastructure delivery team with its own team leader.

"The council adopted its local plan in January 2019 but faces ongoing challenges and development pressures including London wide housing requirements, which the draft London Plan suggests will rise significantly upon adoption. Progress is being made towards adopting a Borough CIL in 2020."

The most south eastern of the London boroughs, Bromley is London's largest borough by area. the majority os green belt, with most of the population living in the north and west of the borough, in Bromley itself, Crystal Palace, Sydenham and Beckenham.

Fun fact

The so-called Bromley Contingent of early Punk rockers had a crucial role to play in the development of Punk and post-Punk music, style and fashion. The loose group of teenagers came together as followers of the Sex Pistols in the early days but quickly became style leaders in their own right.

Various members of the contingent went on to become famous and accomplished artists in their own right, including Siouxsie Sioux, of Siouxsie and the Banshees; Billy Idol of Generation X and subsequent solo fame; Simon Barker who becomes a photographer using the name 'Six' and Bertie Marshall who published a novel, Psychoboys, in 1999. In many ways, the Bromley Contingent did more to shape pop culture than the Sex Pistols themselves (and, yes, those were Bromley Contingent members witting with the Sex Pistols in the notorious Bill Grundy interview in 1976).

Find out more and apply

Highland games [square]4. PUT YOUR WEIGHT BEHIND THIS

What?

Planner, sportscotland, the national agency for sport in Scotland.

Where?

Handsome converted former industrial buildings in the east of Glasgow, next to parkland and within sight of The People's Palace.

The job

"We are seeking to appoint a planner who will work as part of our multi-disciplinary team with a range of partners to plan and influence the development of places for sport.

"Your work areas will be wide ranging - planning policy, development management, project management and planning strategically for sport and recreation, so ideally you will have experience in some of these areas. You will also be an effective communicator as influencing and negotiating are a key part of the role.

"As the national agency for sport our role is to make sure sport plays its part in a thriving Scotland. By investing Scottish Government and National Lottery resources, we help the people of Scotland get the most from the sporting system."

Fun fact

Scottish Highland games may well have influenced the development of the modern-day Olympics. During the 19th century they were the largest and most widespread of sporting events, and their multi sport format are likely to have made a strong impression Baron de Coubertin when he saw a highland games demonstration at the Paris Exhibition of 1889. At the time de Coubertin was planning a revival of the ancient Olympic Games.

Although possible predecessors of Highland games can be traced back to the 11th century, what we think of as Highland games (with caber toss, hammer throw and so on) are basically a Victorian invention, developed after the Highland Clearances. Games continue to take place across the Highlands throughout summer and are festive occasions that may be accompanied by music, markets, mock battles, traditional dancing and herding dog trials.  

Find out more and apply

Peasants' revolt [square]5. START A REVOLUTION

What?

Development management team leader, Brentwood Council.

Where?

The newly refurbished 1950s Town Hall just outside the town centre in Brentwood, Essex.

The job

"Brentwood has seen a rise in development proposals and recognising the need to expand the planning team we are looking to appoint an organised and motivated team leader to join our busy development management team. The successful candidate should have a proven track record of delivering a modern planning service with excellent management and leadership skills."

Though just 30 minutes from London, Brentwood is a largely rural borough that retains large areas of woodland, including Sheffield Forest, dotted with villages and small settlements. The town of Brentwood is its main population centre.

Fun fact

Though perhaps best known nowadays as the location for The Only Way is Essex, back in 1381 Brentwood was the starting point of the Peasants' Revolt which culminated with the murder of Wat Tyler outside Smithfield, London, on 15 June.

The first event of the revolt took place at Brentwood, however, in the form of an anti-poll tax riot. Brentwood's pubs and inns had been the meeting place for the revolt's early instigators, such as John Ball and Jack Straw. The revolt was once considered a defining moment in English history, although modern scholarship tends to play this down. 

Find out more and apply

Photos | Mick Garratt (Alston Moor golf course), Shutterstock, Jean Froissart (peasants' revolt)