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.