Development Planning Officer

Wychavon and Malvern Hills District Council; Pershore; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking a Development Planning Officer to join their team, focusing on sustainable development projects. The role requires a degree in planning or a related field and excellent communication skills. Responsibilities include supporting strategic development sites and liaising with various stakeholders. Attractive benefits, including a pension scheme and generous leave entitlement, are offered.

Benefits

Excellent pension scheme with employer contributions

Generous annual leave entitlement

Committed training programme

Onsite nursery with staff discount

Discounted Gym and swim membership

Health and Wellbeing support

Cycle to Work scheme

Employee Discounts

Qualifications

• Good understanding of the planning system and sustainable development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience in local authority planning, development delivery, or project coordination preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of strategic development sites.
• Monitor project progress and help resolve issues.
• Liaise across service areas to coordinate applications.

Skills

Good communication skills

Research and analytical skills

Customer service orientation

Adaptable and flexible

Education

Degree qualification in planning or similar related subject

Full membership of the RTPI or equivalent

Tools

Windows based computer systems

Job description

Development Planning Officer

37 hours per week, Permanent contract

£35,412 - £39,152 per annum (based on qualifications and experience)

We’re looking for a motivated and proactive Planner to join our Development Planning team, helping to deliver some of the most exciting and significant development projects in South Worcestershire — including the flagship Worcestershire Parkway site.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you’ll play a key part in bringing forward sustainable, high-quality places across Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils. Working closely with colleagues, developers, consultants, Members, and local communities, you’ll support the coordination and delivery of major developments that make a real difference.

What you’ll do

You’ll be involved in a wide range of planning and project delivery activities, including:

• Support the delivery of strategic development sites in line with Council objectives and planning policies
• Provide planning and project support to senior officers and the Head of Development Planning
• Monitor project progress, risks, and timelines, helping to identify and resolve delivery issues
• Liaise across service areas, including Development Management, to coordinate Planning Performance Agreements and applications
• Prepare planning documents, design guides, technical reports, and supporting materials for key projects
• Lead on individual projects and initiatives with guidance from senior colleagues
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration with developers, Members, and local communities through meetings and consultation events
• Support communication, finance, and administrative tasks, including reports, newsletters, budgets, and stakeholder enquiries

For a full list of responsibilities, please see the job description.

About you

You’ll have a good understanding of the planning system and a passion for creating sustainable, high-quality developments. You’ll be organised, detail-focused, and confident in working with a wide range of people. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, as is the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Experience in local authority planning, development delivery, or project coordination would be an advantage, but we’re also open to applicants looking to develop their career in this area.

You will be someone who will demonstrate commitment to delivering the Council's values of great customer service, openness and accountability, innovation and improvement and fairness and respect.

You will also be responsible for championing and demonstrating the Council’s Leadership Behaviour Framework by inspiring, communicating, collaborating and empowering yourself and others and leading by example.

The successful candidate will have:

• A good standard of education;
• A degree qualification in planning or similar related subject;
• Full membership of the RTPI or equivalent;
• Good communication skills;
• An adaptable and flexible approach with the ability to work on a variety of tasks;
• Good working knowledge of Windows based computer systems and their applications;
• Good research and analytical skills; and
• A strong customer service orientation

What we can offer

Our staff are at the heart of what we do, and as a result we are always looking to recruit, develop and retain the very best talent we can find. So, as well as a rewarding career, we offer a range of attractive benefits, such as:

• Excellent pension scheme with employer contributions
• Generous annual leave entitlement with options to purchase additional annual leave
• Committed training programme and development opportunities
• Onsite nursery with 20% staff discount
• Discounted Gym and swim membership
• Health and Wellbeing support and a Free Employee Assistance scheme including access to counselling services
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee Discounts with a range of companies including EE and the Kaarp discount scheme

We are an employer that values face to face communication, collaboration and connection, therefore all our roles have an office-based requirement with some agile working as part of the role.

Please note: Wychavon District Council does not currently offer sponsorship for candidates without the Right to Work in the UK.

If you’re passionate about planning, place-making, and sustainable development, we’d love to hear from you. To discuss the post or for further information, please call Rebecca Buckley on 01386 565 348 or email [e-mail]

Closing date: Sunday 23 November 2025

Interview date: Monday 1 December 2025

Please note if we experience a high intake of applications, we may close the role and interview for the position sooner than advertised.