We’re seeking a highly motivated team-player to join the legal team. As the Planning and Regulatory Projects Lawyer you will report to the Senior Regulatory Counsel in Affinity Water’s small in-house legal team (consisting of six qualified legal professionals and a trainee situated within the Finance & Corporate Services Directorate) and work closely with the Strategic Resource Options (SRO) team (situated within in the Asset Strategy and Capital Delivery directorate) and business stakeholders at all levels of the company.
Outside Affinity Water, you will work with our external lawyers, and the lawyers and other specialists from other water companies and third parties.
This role will provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to work at the heart of major infrastructure projects. The Grand Union Canal (GUC) will be the first project to be delivered, with a planned completion in 2032. The project will utilise the canal infrastructure to transfer treated wastewater from Severn Trent’s wastewater recycling centre at Minworth in the Midlands, to Affinity Water customers in the Southeast, who we predict will experience a water deficit by 2032.

The project is at a critical stage, having completed its first non-statutory consultation in Autumn 2024, and with work progressing through the RAPID scheme, a statutory consultation planned for early 2026, followed by the Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate. The Planning and Regulatory Projects Lawyer will provide a pivotal role, including:

• Working closely on a day-to-day basis with the SRO team, providing advice on all aspects of planning law to further the delivery of the GUC and other SRO projects;
• Advising throughout the RAPID and DCO processes, including managing the relationship with Affinity Water’s external solicitors;
• Advising in relation to the broader commercial aspects of the SROs including: collaboration agreements, bulk supply agreements, procurement and construction contracts

Based from our Head office in Hatfield, with the expectation of at least 2 days on site this position would suit someone looking for either full time or part time hours.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• 2:1 law degree (or equivalent)
• Qualified solicitor or barrister
• Relevant planning law experience relating to major/large infrastructure projects, either in-house or private practice (at least 5 years PQE) (essential)
• Advising in relation to specialist commercial and construction law contracts (essential)
• Excellent legal analytical skills and a close attention to detail
• A high-degree of initiative and the ability to drive outcomes
• Water sector, utilities/infrastructure or construction sector experience (desirable)
  For full Job Description please contact Hayley.savory@affinitywater.co.uk

• Working closely on a day-to-day basis with the SRO team, providing advice on all aspects of planning law to further the delivery of the GUC and other SRO projects;
• Advising throughout the RAPID and DCO processes, including managing the relationship with Affinity Water’s external solicitors;
• Advising in relation to the broader commercial aspects of the SROs including: collaboration agreements, bulk supply agreements, procurement and construction contract