Development Management Planners

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A local planning council in Dereham is seeking Development Management Planners to manage diverse planning applications from households to major projects. Candidates should have a thorough understanding of planning legislation and strong communication skills. This permanent, full-time position offers a salary between £31,645–£37,763 per annum, room for growth within a supportive team, and excellent working conditions including a local government pension scheme.

Benefits

Local government pension scheme (14% employer contribution)

Attractive holiday package (25 days)

Free car parking

Agile working arrangements

Newly refurbished office

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of current legislation relating to planning matters.
• Experience in legal agreements related to planning applications.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a personal caseload of all types of applications.
• Provide timely and accurate reports and recommendations on applications.
• Attend public meetings and Planning Committee as required.

Skills

Good verbal and written communication skills

Ability to consider complex planning issues

Experience in dealing with planning applications

Education

Knowledge of current legislation relating to planning and enforcement

Tools

Word

Outlook

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

Development Management Planners

Salary: Grade 8, £31,645-£37,763 per annum

Hours: Full Time (37hrs per week)

Place of Work: Dereham

Basis: Permanent

Would you like a job where what you do:

Makes a difference to the communities within Breckland

Allows you to shape the environment within which you and the residents of Breckland live, work and play

Creates opportunities to learn and grow within a close team to develop your experience and expertise

We are seeking Development Management Planners to work as part of a team of development management specialists helping deliver an effective and efficient planning service through the determination of a varied caseload of planning applications ranging from householders to major development proposals.

We regulate the use of land in the public interest. Providing a framework for the delivery of sustainable homes and jobs for Breckland residents in the long term.

Responsibilities

• Manage a personal caseload of all types of applications to include largely minor and other applications, with opportunities to work on aspects of major applications including discharge of conditions.
• Deal with all aspects of the Development Management process including report writing, consultations and negotiations with applicants, agents, statutory consultees, Town and Parish Councils and Councillors to obtain quality outcomes.
• Provide timely, comprehensive and accurate reports and recommendations on planning applications to meet relevant targets.
• Attend the Planning Committee and Chairman’s Panel and present applications as required.
• Provide professional and pre-application written and verbal advice on planning matters to clients, the public, Members of the Council, and others as necessary.
• Prepare appeals in relation to planning and enforcement matters. Attend and provide expert evidence at Informal Hearings and with support at Public Inquiries as necessary.
• Attend public meetings as required.
• Keep up to date with current legislation and comply with Health and Safety rules for the safety of yourself and others.
• Such other duties as may, from time to time, be allocated appropriate to the grade and contributing to the purpose and objectives of the post
• Communicate through a range of media including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint etc.

About you

The right candidate will have the following characteristics.

• Collaborative – look for ways to work in partnership and listen supportively to the ideas of others, building on their ideas, while sharing my views and knowledge
• Collaborative – recognise the skills, talent and experience of others and reach out to them for their contribution and input.
• Collaborative – recognise, appreciate and praise others for their contribution.

• Ambitious – I always ask myself ‘How could we do this better?’, taking ownership of change and helping others to understand, adapt, implement, and embed it.
• Ambitious – I have an open mindset, take risks and explore new ways of doing things.
• Ambitious – I am a proud ambassador, taking pride and responsibility for the work we do and encouraging others to do the same.

• Results-driven – I make sure I am clear on what I need to achieve, keeping a focus on results and solutions
• Results-driven – I am driven, showing courage and resilience even when things don’t go to plan.

• Empowering – I ask for help and support when needed, and take responsibility if things don’t go well, learning from it for my own and for the organisation’s development.

• Supportive – I treat others as I would want to be treated myself, ensuring that I am welcoming, friendly and approachable
• Supportive – I give time to colleagues who need help or support.

What you will have

• A thorough knowledge of current legislation relating to planning and enforcement matters.
• Experience in dealing with planning applications and legal agreements.
• Experience of presenting planning applications to Planning Committee.
• Good verbal and written communication skills to include an ability to make concise focused oral presentations.
• The ability to consider a wide range of complex planning and related issues and balance those issues to make a clear and reasoned judgement.
• The ability to prioritise and manage a significant workload, and to work flexibly
• Experience of dealing with customers by phone, e-mail and face to face
• Hold a current UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle

We will encourage you to use your own initiative within a supportive framework to solve challenges and find solutions.

You will need to enjoy working with internal and external stakeholders and have experience of dealing with customers through various communication media.

Working here

At Breckland Council we have embraced the Government's agenda to modernise local government. Our approach is to lead change rather than follow it, and to add the best value we can to our communities. We achieve this by developing our employees to their full potential, providing them with the relevant knowledge, equipment, and authority to carry out their duties.

We are a dynamic and innovative organisation that is always testing and learning as we seek to continually improve. We have never stood still in response to the emergence of new opportunities, changing customer demands, or ongoing funding challenges. We have exciting plans for how to deliver the best possible services to our residents and businesses.

Breckland as a district is a special place nestled in the heart of rural Norfolk, spanning over 500 square miles of beautiful countryside and forest, with five Market Towns and over 140,000 residents. We care for, listen to, and support people and businesses within our district. We have big ideas and always come up with innovative ways to meet the needs of the local communities we serve. Through our actions, we want to make things better.

But we know that we can't do it alone. We are a collaborative organisation and work together with others to make a greater impact. We are also an organisation where our employees can grow and develop and are empowered to achieve and succeed. We are proud of our area; by driving investment and enabling opportunities, we can maximise its full potential. We want to inspire aspiration to live, work, visit, or do business here: we want our district to be the one of choice.

We will support and enable growth and change in our thriving, welcoming places. As such, people and businesses will choose to be here, knowing their ambitions can be not just fulfilled but exceeded. By listening to people, by understanding what they need and by working together, we can shape what we have to offer. By doing so, we can benefit those who are already here, as well as those who choose to come to live, work, visit, or do business.

Our employees enjoy excellent conditions of service, including:

• A local government pension scheme (14 per cent employer contribution).
• Attractive holiday package (25 days increasing with service, plus bank holidays).
• Free car parking.
• Agile working arrangements.
• A newly refurbished office.

Our commitment to talent development, on the job learning and upskilling, training and professional memberships, will keep your knowledge and skills up to date.

Apply by clicking on the "apply button"

Closing date: 16th October 2025

Interview Dates: TBC

If you would like an informal chat regarding this role please contact Richard Laws – Principal D M Planner – [e-mail] or Chris Hobson – Principal D M Planner – [e-mail]

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities employer, recognising the benefits of sustaining a workforce which reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from anyone who feels they meet the requirements of our vacancies - these are listed as essential requirements on the person specification (within the Recruitment Pack).

DBS Requirement?

Please be aware that if you are selected for this role there will be a requirement to undertake a DBS check as part of pre-employment checks.