The Arora Group Property division was set up in 2005 to provide a property and asset management service. It currently manages over £1.5 billion of property assets which includes operated hotels, a portfolio of externally leased hotels, offices and commercial spaces, as well as land holdings across London, major regional airports and the home counties.

The Town Planner will assist the Head of Planning on a wide portfolio of sites but will also be responsible for leading on complex planning projects from inception to completion.

This role will be fully office based role at Arora Group head office around Heathrow Area (5 days per week).

Minimum of 5 years’ experience is required.

Day to Day

• Carry out due diligence on potential site acquisitions, including a review of applicable planning designations, relevant planning history and any other land-use constraints.
• Carry out site appraisals to determine a site’s development potential.
• Provide general planning advice about upcoming and ongoing development projects, identifying areas of risk, and ensuring regulatory compliance with any existing planning permissions.
• Monitoring of development sites to ensure that schemes are progressing in accordance with the relevant planning permission and assessing whether any changes are material.
• Ability to accurately measure plans to scale using Adobe (or similar software).
• Engage directly with hotel management teams to discuss site specific proposals, and the limits of permitted development rights for these uses.

Duties and Responsibilities

• The provision of planning advice to property, legal, construction colleagues on a variety of planning matters
• Written representations, informal hearings and public inquiry appeals
• Preparation and submission of applications for a range of development types
• Making representations to Local Plans
• Responding to planning enforcement matters
• Negotiations with local authorities and other statutory undertakers on planning applications and other planning related matters
• Any other duties that may be required from time to time

Skills & Experience

• Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) or relevant degree level with A good understanding of UK planning policies and process.
• Proven track record in dealing with complex planning cases.
• Senior Stakeholder Management experience.
• Private or Public sector experience.
• Experience in development management with the ability to deal with a wide range of planning applications and related matters.
• Good report writing skills with close attention to detail and accuracy of content.
• Excellent administrative communication, interpersonal, organisational & time management skills.
• An individual who is self-motivated and detail focused with the ability to produce high quality work.
• Commercially minded, astute and market aware.
• Knowledge of Heritage Issues an advantage.
• Full UK driving licence (Must Have).