The Friday Five 16.11.18
A round-up of five of the best, most interesting, significant or unusual jobs on Planner Jobs this week.
1. COAL FOR THE JAM 'OLE
What?
Planning assistant, Canal & River Trust (fixed term until Sept 2020).
Where?
The Heritage Skills Centre beside Hatton Locks on the Grand Union Canal in Hatton, near Warwick. It's in Canal Lane, obvs.
The job
"Our two planning teams have a significant role to play in helping us make life better by water. One team is dedicated to our role as a statutory consultee and influencing planning policy, while the other provides internal planning advice and secures planning consents for sites and activities. You’ll provide vital support across both team.
"Among other things, the role involves taking on a caseload of household and minor planning consultations, providing advice about developments that are proposed next to our waterways."
The Canal & River Trust is a charity that looks after 2,000 miles of UK canals and rivers. "These historic, natural and cultural assets form part of the strategic and local green-blue infrastructure network, linking urban and rural communities as well as habitats."
Fun fact
The last regular long-distance narrowboat traffic delivered coals from the Midlands to Dickinson's paper mills at Croxley and the Kearley & Tonge Jam Factory at Southall. The job, which ended in 1970, was known as delivering "Coal for the Jam 'ole" or the "Jam 'Ole Run".
2. THIS ONE'S A KEEPER
What?
Senior planner, Knowsley Council.
Where?
The council offices in Huyton Shopping Village in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, within the Liverpool City Region between Liverpool and St Helens. Phew.
The job
"Your primary role will be to manage, within a supportive team environment, a varied caseload of planning and related applications. This will include applications for major and complex development.
"You must have a minimum of two years’ experience of working within a council planning service or an equivalent environment. You should also be able to demonstrate your experience of your involvement in progressing planning applications for complex and/or major development through the planning process."
Knowsley comprises the towns and districts of Kirkby, Prescot, Huyton, Whiston, Halewood, Cronton and Stockbridge Villag. It's the smallest metropolitan borough within Merseyside with a population of 148,000.
Fun fact
Huyton was host to a prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. After its closure in 1948 many of its inmates stayed in Britain, among them former Nazi paratrooper Bert Trautmann who went on to be the goalkeeper for Manchester City from 1949-64. He famously broke his neck in the 1956 FA Cup final but played on to the end. A film about Trautmann's life was released in 2017.
3. A MODEL DWELLING
What?
Town planner with a London Housing Association (agency recruitment).
Where?
Somewhere in London (sorry we're not privy the exact location).
The job
"A London housing association is looking for a town planner to join its expanding team. Working on residential projects predominantly outside of the capital you'll guide applications through the planning system. You will also work closely with the land acquisition team and regeneration team on developments."
The employer is a "major UK house builder and housing association" which works on primarily residential schemes on greenfield sites of 50-400+ units. You'll "work closely with the land team and regeneration team to create neighbourhoods that vibrant, safe & modern".
Fun fact
Housing associations first appeared in the second half of the nineteenth century as part of the growth in philanthropic and voluntary organisations. But their forerunners were 'model dwellings companies' which sought to provide affordable housing for the working classes on a privately-run basis, with a financial return for investors. This was known as the 'five per cent' philanthropy model'. Among the model dwellings companies were the wonderfully-named Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes.
4. A PROSPECT FOR A NAVE
What?
Planning manager (development), Town Quay Developments Ltd, "a boutique property company specialising in commercial development, investment and advisory".
Where?
In an 18th century stable block converted into modern offices a few steps from Winchester Cathedral in Winchester, Hants.
The job
Established in 1880, the company "manages its own land and business park portfolio and offers unparalleled development services to its high net worth client base.
"We are looking for a dynamic and experienced development and planning manager capable of site assembly and necessary co-ordination of the consultant team to deliver planning consents and maximise intrinsic value."
The City of Winchester, the capital of Wessex in Anglo Saxon England, is a deeply historic medium-sized settlement of 45,000 a few miles north of Southampton.
Fun fact
Winchester Cathedral has the longest nave and overall length of all Gothic cathedrals in Europe. The cathedral was initially founded in 642; in 1079, Walkelin, Bishop of Winchester, began work on a new building that was consecrated in 1093. Much of this still remains.
5. ALL HAIL THE BLANKETMEN
What?
Principal planner, West Oxfordshire District Council/Publica. Publica is a council-owned organisation delivering shared services to several councils.
Where?
In a handsome grade II listed building in the small market town of Witney, Oxfordshire, 12 miles west of Oxford.
The job
"This is one of two principal planner posts within the development management team. The post holder will be required to be responsible for planning negotiations leading towards the submission of an application and subsequent delivery of The Oxfordshire Garden Village
Deal; manage the planner in the garden village team or manage the dedicated senior planner (Appeals)."
Witney is a historic market town of around 27,000, 12 miles west of Oxford. Yes, its where former PM David Cameron lives. So does former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson.
Fun fact
Local football club Witney United FC is nicknamed 'The Blanketmen' after the town's traditional trade – Witney has been famous for its woollen blankets since the Middle Ages. There was even a Blanket Hall built in the high street in 1721 for weighing and measuring blankets. The last blanket maker, Early's, closed its factory doors in 2002. Its now a housing estate.
Photos | iStock, Shutterstock
