Planning Ecologist

Joint Borough Planning Ecologist – a shared role between London Borough of Newham and
London Borough of Redbridge

PO6 £51,093 – £54,129
Reference RQ001680

About the Job 

This role is a brand new and unique opportunity to shape two of London’s most dynamic councils
and help create a greener, more resilient, bio-diverse slice of north-east London. This is a
vital role to support both councils to deliver our climate commitments and meet our new
requirements to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain 

Both councils are committed to working together, acknowledging the importance of cross boundary
projects, and learning from each other to implement best practice in relation to Biodiversity
Net Gain, Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation and other ecological projects. 

The role will be directly employed by the London Borough of Newham, in the planning service,
but will split their time evenly between both councils. The role will work closely with
colleagues across both councils, including the parks services, climate emergency teams and
highways. 

About Redbridge 

Redbridge is an ambitious and exciting east-London borough. We’re one of the fastest growing
parts of the country and the third most diverse London borough. Our communities are attracted
by a mixture of excellent schools, relatively affordable housing, high-quality open space and
rapid transport connections into the centre of the city. 

This is an exciting time for the London Borough of Redbridge; we are at the heart of
regeneration and change in East London, with unprecedented investment in the area expected in
the next few years due to the transformational opportunities for new homes and jobs brought
with the Elizabeth Line We benefit from excellent transport links across London and Essex and
our offices, based in Ilford, are only 9 minutes from Stratford and 18 minutes from Liverpool
Street.

Redbridge is an outer London borough benefitting from a mixture of environments ranging from
urban spaces to Green Flag parks, to award-winning country parkland such as Hainault Forest,
Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation and Green Belt spaces. It has a comprehensive green
and blue infrastructure network that encompasses half the borough. A spine of this
infrastructure follows the River Roding from the north to the south of the borough, and there
is an important area of greenspace in the north-east of the borough surrounding Fairlop Waters
and Fairlop plain. There are 52 SINC sites in the borough, 4 local nature reserves. 

The Redbridge Corporate Plan 2022-2026 sets out “Clean and Green” as one of the four key
thematic areas for the Council to focus delivering in the borough. This includes delivering the
Climate Change Action Plan 2021-2024 which has the twin aims of mitigating emissions within the
Council’s control and adapting to a changing climate.

Redbridge is committed to meeting its biodiversity duties as well as key objectives as set out
in its Climate Change Action Plan and Green Urban Landscape Policy for Council Maintained Land
to benefit its diverse communities and businesses. You will play a vital part in helping the
Council maximise its potential to deliver key objectives for nature conservation, biodiversity
and access enhancements through new developments, biodiversity offsetting, strengthening the
green and blue infrastructure network and Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace provision. 

About Newham 

Newham will offer you a unique working environment within a London borough that is at the
centre of many of Europe’s most exciting regeneration projects – including the Royal Docks (the
new location for the Mayor of London’s City Hall) and Stratford (where the London Legacy
Development Corporation’s planning powers will shortly be returning to the borough). The Draft
Local Plan sets out 44 site allocations where numerous brownfield sites will be transformed
into homes and new developments. As such, the next 5 to 10 years offer a huge opportunity to
ensure that some of London’s largest developments include significant space for nature.

There are 25 public parks in Newham and numerous green spaces totalling around 25,947 hectares
of publicly accessible green space. In addition to the green space, the Royal Docks were once
the largest enclosed docks in the world and is a 250-acre expanse of water. We’re also edged by
three rivers – the Thames, Lea and Roding – all of which have significant opportunities to
improve biodiversity and access to nature. Despite these important natural facilities, green
space covers only covers 13% of Newham compared with 39% for London as a whole. Newham is
committed to addressing this deficiency, and our declaration of climate emergency and
forthcoming Just Transition Plan will set out ambitious steps to improving green cover, access
to greenspace and improving biodiversity fairly and with our residents at the heart of this
work. 

About You 

We are looking for a candidate with knowledge of, and experience in, ecological assessments and
projects. You will have an understanding of Biodiversity Net Gain requirements and its
practical application through the planning system. You may not have worked in a Local
Government setting but are committed to our objectives and share our ethos.

We are committed to supporting the right person develop their skills and therefore expect you
to be interested in learning and development and excited about being part of a new, emerging
and fast changing area of local government practice.

You will be self-sufficient and proactive, comfortable working independently, but enjoy sharing
your expertise, bringing colleagues up to speed and along with you and working collaboratively
with internal and external colleagues and stakeholders. 

You will be organised and happy working in a busy environment, able to balance and prioritise
competing objectives.

Closing date: 15th March 2024