Development Service Officer

Milton Keynes City Council; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday benefits

Pension (LGPS)

Family friendly policies

Health cash plan

Bike purchase scheme

Discounts on services

Job summary

Milton Keynes City Council is seeking a Development Services Officer within the Planning service. You will validate applications, assess minor cases, maintain records and provide clear planning guidance to customers and colleagues.

Strong attention to detail, good IT skills and a customer-focused approach are essential. The role offers a flexible working arrangement, with site or home-based options after assessment, and a supportive team committed to delivering excellent planning services to

Qualifications

• GCSE including Maths, English and Geography.
• Confident with Microsoft Office and Outlook.
• Clear English communication for customers and colleagues.
• Strong customer focus with clear, written and spoken advice.
• Well organised and able to meet deadlines; know when to seek guidance.
• Collaborative approach and initiative to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear planning process advice to customers, colleagues and external organisations.
• Check and validate planning applications in line with national and local requirements.
• Arrange publicity and consultations, identify constraints and maintain statutory records.
• Calculate and check planning fees and other local charges with accurate financial records.
• Assess minor applications and Certificates of Lawful Development; prepare reports and recommendations.
• Support planning enforcement, service improvements and IT systems administration.

Skills

Maths & English GCSEs

Office & Outlook

Clear communication

Customer focus

Organisation

Initiative & independence

Education

GCSE including Maths/English/Geography

Tools

Planning software

Job description

Job Introduction

We're recruiting a Development Services Officer to join our Planning service.

Our Planning service helps residents, businesses and developers understand and follow the planning process in Milton Keynes.

You’ll support planning applications through validation, assessment of minor applications, record keeping and advice.

You’ll provide clear guidance and help ensure applications are handled accurately and efficiently.

This is a rewarding role for someone who enjoys detailed work, solving problems and helping customers understand technical information.

You’ll contribute to improvements across the Development Management service and support work that helps make Milton Keynes a better place to live.

This role may be suitable for home working, following an assessment. Home-based roles require a minimum of one day per week working from the office or site.

Interviews for this role will be held on 19th November 2026

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We're dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.

We take pride in our supportive work culture and try to go that extra mile when it comes to investing in our colleagues.

Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk

Main Responsibility

• Provide clear planning process advice to customers, colleagues and external organisations.
• Check and validate planning applications in line with national and local planning requirements.
• Arrange publicity and consultations, identify planning constraints and maintain statutory registers and other records.
• Calculate and check planning application fees and other local charges, keeping accurate financial records.
• Assess minor applications, including Certificates of Lawful Development, and prepare reports and recommendations based on planning policy, legislation and professional judgement.
• Support planning enforcement, service improvements and the administration of Planning information technology systems.

The Ideal Candidate

• Qualified to General Certificate of Secondary Education level, or an equivalent standard, including Maths, English and Geography.
• Confident using Microsoft Office and Outlook, with the willingness to learn specialist Planning software.
• You’ll communicate clearly in plain English and make technical information easier for customers and colleagues to understand.
• A strong customer focus will help you provide clear, respectful and helpful advice in writing and over the telephone.
• Well organised and comfortable working to deadlines, you’ll know when to make a decision and when to seek further guidance.
• Taking a dedicated, respectful and collaborative approach, you’ll use your initiative, work independently and contribute positively to the wider team.

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

Roles are either 'site based' or 'home based'.

Site based roles are mainly based at the workplace, with the option to work from home for up to two days a week, depending on service needs.

Home based roles are mainly based at home, with the expectation of attending the workplace up to one day a week.

The working arrangement for each role is set by the manager, based on service requirements.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.

Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have an independent and unrestricted right to work in the UK, without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.