Development Control Engineer

Our client is seeking a Development Control Engineer for a contract role within a busy local authority highways environment in London. The position will assess the highway and transport impacts of development proposals, manage development-related highway agreements and help ensure new highway infrastructure is delivered, constructed and adopted in accordance with relevant legislation, policies and technical standards. The role is hybrid and offers a broad range of development management, highways engineering, stakeholder engagement, site supervision and project delivery responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assess the highway and transport implications of planning applications and development proposals.
• Manage Section 38, Section 278 and Section 184 applications and agreements.
• Review, approve and technically audit highway designs, construction details and infrastructure proposals.
• Negotiate with developers, consultants, legal representatives and other stakeholders on highway matters.
• Prepare engineering assessments, cost estimates, technical reports and professional correspondence.
• Inspect and monitor highway works to ensure compliance with approved drawings, specifications and relevant standards.
• Support the completion and adoption of new highway infrastructure and the ongoing management of highway assets.
• Maintain accurate records of applications, agreements, financial contributions, bonds and deposits.
• Monitor budgets, invoices and fees while contributing to service performance and income targets.
• Represent the Highway Authority at meetings and support the Senior Development Control Engineer, deputising when required.

Job Requirements:

• ONC or HNC qualification in Civil Engineering, Highway Engineering, Transportation Engineering or a related discipline; degree-level qualifications are desirable.
• Significant experience in highways development control, development management, transport planning, civil engineering consultancy or a highway authority environment.
• Strong experience managing Section 38 and Section 278 schemes, including technical approval and highway adoption processes.
• Good understanding of highways and transport legislation, policies, standards and specifications.
• Experience supervising contractors and monitoring highway construction works.
• Ability to provide professional technical advice to developers, consultants, planning officers, legal representatives and other stakeholders.
• Strong communication, negotiation, organisation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, applications and competing priorities effectively.
• Knowledge of construction health and safety requirements, data protection, customer care and corporate governance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel, with the ability to maintain accurate financial and project records.
• Full UK driving licence or the ability to travel throughout the borough as required.

Desirable Experience:

• Local authority highways development control experience.
• Highway design auditing, technical approval and asset adoption experience.
• Project management and budget monitoring experience.
• Experience preparing committee reports, technical reports and formal correspondence.
• Contributing to service improvement, performance management and income generation activities.
• Ability to build effective relationships across multidisciplinary teams and external organisations.

The successful individual will be a proactive and commercially aware highways professional with strong technical engineering expertise and a thorough understanding of development management processes. They will be comfortable managing complex highway agreements and development proposals from inception through construction and adoption, while maintaining positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
If you have the required highways development control experience and are interested in supporting the delivery of high-quality infrastructure within a local authority environment, apply now.