Principal Planner

Principal Planner

Job Title: Principal Planner (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects)

Department: Environmental & Social Planning

Reporting to: Head of Environmental & Social Planning, UK & Ireland

Location: London, UK

About Lightsource bp

We are Lightsource bp – and we’re on a mission to become a global leader in onshore renewables, anchored by our proven track record in solar development.

For over a decade we’ve been actively working to diversify the way our world is powered with sustainable and responsible renewable power. We work to safely deliver affordable, reliable, large-scale onshore renewable and energy storage solutions to help the world decarbonise.

Our growing business is constantly innovating and investing to help drive the energy transition. Our people and projects are focused on supporting long-term sustainable growth and energy security.

Lightsource bp was fully acquired by bp in 2024.

What you’ll do (the role)

Summary

We are looking for an experienced, driven planner to lead planning and environmental permitting across our growing solar and battery energy storage portfolio. This is a high-impact role at the heart of the energy transition, shaping projects from inception through to consenting, construction, and operation.

You will own the end-to-end planning and permitting process — managing consultants, preparing and progressing environmental assessments and planning applications, and negotiating with planning, environmental, and permitting authorities. You will input into business strategy, manage competing priorities across multiple projects, and provide clear, defensible planning advice that balances technical, environmental, and commercial considerations.

You will work collaboratively across business development, engineering, grid, construction, and legal teams — bringing credibility, rigour, and a solutions-focused mindset to every challenge.

What you bring

• Proven TCPA and NSIP experience and strong working knowledge of the Planning Act 2008
• Up-to-date understanding of the UK planning and environmental permitting policy landscape
• The confidence to navigate complex stakeholder environments - from local authorities to political stakeholders
• Strong project management skills: programme, risk, and budget ownership
• A proactive, hands-on approach with the judgment to drive projects forward

The Opportunity

You will be a key member of a collaborative, high-performing team, supporting and deputising for the Head of Environmental Planning as needed. You'll also join Lightsource bp's wider global environmental planning community, with opportunities to contribute to company-wide initiatives that align with your interests.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Taking a key role in leading and managing the planning for NSIP scale and other projects. Developing Lightsource bp’s inhouse NSIP expertise.
• Provide expert advice to inform planning strategy, decision making, and risk management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support site selection and project feasibility work undertaking environmental / planning appraisals, using GIS tools and undertaking site visits. Providing expert planning advice to inform decision-making, identifying potential planning constraints which may impact site selection.
• Lead and manage the planning and environmental permitting activities for a portfolio of projects, including: appointment and project management of external consultant teams; review and sign off of reports; collaborating with the internal Business Development, Engineering and Construction teams to define project design and detail, ensuring these respond to planning, environmental and community challenges and concerns.
• Ensure planning applications are legally robust and defensible, anticipating and mitigating judicial review risk through rigorous interrogation of assumptions and evidence.
• Work with internal Development Managers and co-developers in permit and licensing processes and their responses/solutions to flagged risks and propose risk mitigation measures.
• Programme, budget and risk management including regular reporting to the Head of Environmental Planning and the Business Development team.
• Lead on stakeholder engagement for projects, building and maintaining relationships with statutory bodies, local authorities, and community stakeholders to facilitate efficient consenting processes.
• Undertake construction handovers to ensure planning, environmental and social obligations during construction and operation are clearly detailed and understood.
• Undertake post-construction planning compliance audits for operational assets
• Undertake due diligence for potential M&A targets and reviewing warranties on project and asset divestments
• Mentoring junior staff on personal development and providing input into both Team and Department strategy.
• Developing strong relationships with internal team members and being involved in maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders, including politicians and Solar Energy UK.
• Represent the organisation at planning committees, trade association meetings and industry events.
• Monitor and interpret national, regional, and local planning policy, advising on implications for the Country's development strategy and respond to Government consultations.
• Travel around the country for site visits, community information events, and meetings with planning authorities is likely.

Who we’re looking for

Knowledge

• Comprehensive working knowledge of UK planning systems (Town and Country Planning Act 1990, NSIP Development Consent Order process, and emerging Significant Infrastructure Projects regime in Wales), demonstrated through experience navigating complex consenting challenges, managing stakeholder conflicts, and advising on strategy under scrutiny.

Experience & Education

• At least 7+ years’ experience of managing planning and/or EIA, ideally in-house or consultancy experience.
• Experience in utility scale solar PV, wind and/or BESS preferrable, or other renewables energy/infrastructure projects will also be a benefit.
• Experience in managing projects at all stages of a project and delivering effective stakeholder and community engagement.
• Experience in using GIS tools for constraints mapping (ArcGIS or similar)
• Excellent technical, project management and communication skills to manage the assessment and preparation of planning applications, EIAs and management plans.
• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in planning, Environmental Engineering is required.
• MRTPI or IPI.

Why you’ll want to work for us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow, a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Our culture is driven by our core values – from operating safely to ensuring our projects are responsible.

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.

Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. These include our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project, or volunteering on our VIBES committee to name a few.

Our core values

Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.

https://www.lightsourcebp.com/careers/

Why You’ll Want to Stay with us

At Lightsource bp, you’ll work within agile, cross-functional teams where diverse perspectives come together. Our culture embraces open knowledge sharing and collaboration, empowering you to learn from others and accelerate progress collectively.

Your career growth is our priority and a shared journey. We are committed to developing talent from within and prepare you for career advancement so you can shape a fulfilling and lasting journey here.

In today’s fast-changing world, a learning mindset is essential and therefore we proactively support upskilling to help you push your skill boundaries and stay ahead in your field, so you can not only keep pace with change, but confidently shape a brighter future.