Senior Planner - Development Management

A busy Local Authority Development Management team is looking for an experienced Senior Planner who can take ownership of a caseload and make an immediate contribution.

This is a hands-on role for a qualified planner with strong Development Management experience. You will be dealing with a varied caseload of planning applications, providing clear professional advice, negotiating effectively with applicants and developers, and producing robust recommendations and reports.

You will need to be confident working in a fast-paced local authority environment, managing deadlines, dealing with competing views and presenting planning matters clearly at committee when required.

The role

As Senior Planner, you will be responsible for:

• Managing and progressing a varied caseload of planning applications

• Assessing proposals against local and national planning policy and legislation

• Interpreting plans, appeal decisions, court decisions and relevant planning guidance

• Preparing clear, accurate reports, letters and recommendations

• Negotiating with developers, applicants, agents, residents and internal stakeholders

• Resolving complex or contentious planning matters professionally

• Supporting Planning Committee work, including occasional evening meetings

• Using planning systems and reporting information effectively

• Working independently and delivering decisions within required timescales

What you need

To be considered, you must have:

• A degree in Town Planning

• Full membership of the RTPI or RICS Planning Division

• At least 3 years’ post-qualification Development Management experience

• Strong working knowledge of planning law, policy and practice

• Experience of handling planning applications within a local authority or comparable public sector environment

• Excellent report writing, communication and presentation skills

• Confidence dealing with developers, residents, members and other stakeholders

• The ability to manage a demanding workload and make sound professional judgements

You must also be able to attend occasional out-of-hours committee meetings and travel around the borough where required.

Why apply?

This is an opportunity to join an established local authority planning service in a senior, delivery-focused role. You will be trusted to manage your own workload, deal with meaningful planning matters and contribute from day one.