Job Description

Planning Solicitor

Location: Newcastle

Salary: £50,000 to £70,000

Experience: 1 to 5 years PQE

A well-established Planning team is looking to hire a Planning Solicitor (1 to 5 PQE) to join its Newcastle office. This is a great chance to work on a varied pipeline of planning matters, supporting senior lawyers on complex projects while developing your own caseload.

You will be advising a broad mix of clients across the built environment, including developers, landowners and public sector bodies, and you will gain exposure to high-profile work with genuine scope to build your technical expertise and client relationships.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating Section 106 agreements and other planning agreements

• Advising on planning strategy, interpreting planning permissions and conditions, and managing planning risk

• Supporting on large-scale and complex planning projects, including liaising with counsel and assisting with inquiries

• Advising on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

• Advising on compulsory purchase matters and development consent or other infrastructure projects

• Managing planning enforcement, certificates of lawfulness, judicial review matters and related court proceedings

• Advising on highways and public rights of way matters, including stopping up and diversion applications

• Providing advocacy at hearings, inquiries, planning committees and magistrates’ court proceedings (where appropriate)

• Supporting business development and helping to grow client relationships

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor with at least 1 year PQE in planning law

• Experience advising across a broad range of planning matters (including agreements, advisory work and contentious elements)

• Clear, confident communication skills, both written and verbal

• Strong organisation and time management, with the ability to prioritise competing deadlines

• A proactive approach, good attention to detail, and the confidence to work independently when needed

• Comfortable working collaboratively as part of a team

What’s On Offer

• £50,000 to £70,000 salary (depending on experience)

• Discretionary bonus

• Enhanced pension with employer matched contributions up to 6%

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (increasing with service), with the option to buy additional leave

• Life assurance (4x basic salary), with the option to purchase additional cover

• Hybrid working, with a minimum requirement of 2 days per week in the Newcastle office

• A range of health and wellbeing benefits

• Flexible benefits programme

• Supportive culture with a focus on development, wellbeing and inclusion

About the Firm

Our client is a full-service UK law firm with a strong reputation across the built environment and wider commercial sectors. The firm offers high-quality work, a collaborative culture, and a genuine commitment to supporting people to thrive.

Working Arrangements

This is a permanent, full-time role based in Newcastle, with hybrid working.

How to Apply

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.