Senior Planning Enforcement Officer
Lynx Employment Services Ltd
Location: Shropshire – Hybrid Working Pay: £32.54 per hour PAYE Hours: 37 hours per week Contract: 3-month rolling contract Hybrid: Predominantly remote – 1 office day per week (Thursday) Site Visits: Required Driving: Full driving licence and access to own vehicle essential
We are recruiting for an experienced Senior Planning Enforcement Officer to join a busy Planning Enforcement and Development Management service in Shropshire.
This is a senior-level position requiring someone who can confidently manage their own complex planning enforcement caseload, provide specialist advice and support colleagues across the wider enforcement service.
The team handles more than 500 planning enforcement cases each year, ranging from significant unauthorised developments to smaller technical breaches.
### The Role
You will take responsibility for planning enforcement cases from initial investigation through to resolution and formal action where necessary.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Managing a varied and complex planning enforcement caseload
- Investigating alleged breaches of planning control
- Evaluating evidence and determining appropriate enforcement action
- Providing specialist professional and technical planning enforcement advice
- Liaising with internal departments, external agencies and other stakeholders
- Preparing detailed reports and recommendations for delegated decisions
- Identifying appropriate remedial action where development does not comply with approved plans, conditions or relevant requirements
- Preparing and presenting reports to Planning Committee
- Attending court hearings, public inquiries and other formal proceedings
- Preparing and presenting evidence
- Supporting planning enforcement appeals
- Undertaking site inspections across the county
- Maintaining accurate case information on Development Management systems
- Supporting improvements to planning enforcement procedures and service delivery
The Council specifically requires the postholder to undertake case management, evaluate evidence, prepare recommendations and attend committees, court hearings and public inquiries where required.
### Senior Responsibilities
This isn't just a standard Enforcement Officer position. The successful candidate will also support the Principal Planning Enforcement Officer and provide guidance across the wider service.
The full specification includes line-management support for enforcement and technical support officers, monitoring individual and team performance and contributing to projects and service improvement.
### About You
We are particularly interested in candidates who have:
Significant experience within Planning Enforcement Strong knowledge of planning legislation and Development Management Experience managing complex enforcement investigations Ability to assess evidence and determine appropriate enforcement action Experience preparing enforcement reports and recommendations Confidence dealing with difficult or contentious cases Experience with planning appeals, hearings, inquiries and/or court proceedings Strong report-writing and communication skills Experience advising a range of internal and external stakeholders Ability to work independently and manage a demanding caseload Previous senior, supervisory or mentoring experience would be advantageous Local authority Planning Enforcement experience would be highly desirable Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle### Working Arrangements
The role is predominantly remote, with one office day per week on Thursdays, alongside site visits as required.
The Council's substantive JD lists the primary base as the Guildhall, Shrewsbury, with regular home working. It also confirms that having a suitable vehicle available for work is a condition of the role.
£32\.54 PAYE per hour \| 37 hours \| 3\-month rolling contract \| Hybrid
If you're an experienced Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, Planning Enforcement Officer or Enforcement Planner looking for your next contract, please apply with your latest CV.
Application opens at the source listing. Free for jobseekers.