Land and Consents Consultant (all levels)

We are WSP - Join us and make your career future ready!

WSP is one of the UK's largest suppliers of Land Services and is looking to broaden and strengthen its team of experienced land professionals across the UK with immediate vacancies for Land and Consents Consultant (all levels) to join our established teams. 

Are you ready to contribute to major infrastructure projects in the UK and Ireland? We’re excited to offer opportunities within our multidisciplinary firm. As a valued member of our Land team, you’ll play a crucial role in delivering essential services related to land acquisition, valuation, compulsory purchase, compensation, landowner engagement, land access, wayleaves, consents, and negotiations.

We are currently delivering an exciting portfolio of projects across the UK and Ireland, driving expansion across all areas to expand our current teams and locations.

We deliver land services across various sectors and with a variety of clients such as National Grid, East West Rail Co, Network Rail, Heathrow Airport, Eirgrid, Transport for Infrastructure Ireland, National Gas, SSE, Transport Scotland, amongst others.

To find out more about our Land business, please click on the following link:

 https://www.wsp.com/en-gb/services/land-referencing-and-land-assembly

 This role can be based in any of our offices across the UK and Ireland with the flexibility of hybrid working between one of these locations and home. There is scope for a suitable candidate to be located away from the current office locations, but with availability for regular travel to site and appropriate office location. 

 YOUR NEW ROLE, WHATS INVOLVED? 

• Negotiating access to and acquiring complex land for high profile, strategic infrastructure projects across the UK, including drafting and preparing consent documents
• Securing appropriate land rights for large scale development projects and providing strategic land advice to our clients.
• Utilising statutory powers and other available mechanisms to acquire land (such as DCO, CPO, TCPA, TWAO, Hybrid Bills) on behalf of WSP clients across highways, rail, aviation, water, gas and all energy sectors including renewables. 
• Negotiation of Heads of Terms for large scale, complex landowners to secure land for projects in timely fashion utilising the appropriate mechanism.
• Liaising with major landowners’ land agents, legal representatives, planning authorities, key stakeholders, contractors and clients.
• Managing and settling compensation claims (eg DCO, CPO, land damage, voluntary etc)
• Experience in working with multi-disciplinary teams across a range of sectors and locations across the UK.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting and/or developing a team of early career professionals providing both technical training and career development support.
• Participation within the management team, propelling the team forward and advancing its growth and development.

 WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU IF YOU HAVE

• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven track record in the leading delivery of land and property related services.
• Experience of negotiating with complex landowners and robust knowledge of the legal process for the acquisition of property and rights.
• Understanding of landownership and occupation across the UK and the implication this can have for securing agreements for DNOs and developers, including structure of agricultural tenancies/ agreements, 
• Experience of managing and settling a range of voluntary and compulsory purchase compensation claims. Eg. HOTs, wayleave, easements, EA Agreements, Option Agreements.
• Experience of high-profile infrastructure development schemes in particular the road, rail, gas, electricity or renewable energy sector.
• Broad knowledge across any of the relevant legislation and procedures.
  • Town & Country Planning Act,
  • Electricity Act, 
  • Transport and Works Act Orders. 
  • Hybrid Bills
  • Development Consent Orders.
• Effective, concise communication with strong influencing and negotiating skills.
• A full UK driving licence is required.
• Associate or full Membership to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or other professional membership (desirable but not essential).

We will consider candidates that have relevant transferable skills in land and consents management therefore fully demonstrating all of the above role requirements is not essential.

YOUR TEAM

As a part of the WSP Land Team you would work to deliver land acquisition, land access, formal consents, statutory orders and compensation agreements.

Our clients develop major highway, rail, energy and renewable infrastructure projects, all of which impact privately owned land. You will work as part of a team of Land Specialists assisting in the liaison with landowners that may be affected by development, obtaining the appropriate land consents, gaining access and where necessary compensating them for the impact caused by the scheme.

As part of our Land Team you will combine office, home and on-site working to support the delivery of land access and land acquisition projects through the identification of land ownership, consultation with landowners, undertaking property valuation, assessing and negotiating compensation, combining skills in GIS, data management and landowner engagement.