Planner (Development Management)

Norwich City Council; Norwich; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Holiday entitlement 26–33 days

Extra statutory day at Christmas

Occupational health & employee assist.

Living Wage accreditation

Job summary

Norwich City Council seeks an experienced planning professional to take the next step in their career, working on a wide range of development proposals, regeneration projects, policy work, and cross-authority initiatives that shape Norwich's future.

You will provide high-quality planning advice to applicants, agents, the public, councillors and stakeholders; process and determine applications; negotiate planning obligations; and prepare robust reports and recommendations.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical abilities and confidence interpreting plans, drawings, and technical data.
• Ability to negotiate effectively, make sound planning judgments, and manage your own workload to meet deadlines.
• Commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.
• Ability to mentor colleagues and contribute positively to team development.
• Competence using standard office and specialist planning systems, including GIS.
• A postgraduate degree or diploma in Planning.

Responsibilities

• Work independently at a senior professional level to deliver the full range of statutory planning and development management functions.
• Provide high-quality planning advice to applicants, agents, the public, councillors, and other stakeholders.
• Process and determine planning applications, negotiate amendments, secure planning obligations, and prepare robust reports and recommendations.
• Contribute to planning enforcement by assessing unauthorised development and advising on appropriate actions.
• Support preparation, monitoring, and review of spatial planning policies, including work linked to the Local Development Framework.
• Present cases at Planning Applications Committee and represent the Council at appeals, hearings, and public inquiries.
• Help develop and improve service performance, systems, and workflow management.
• Assist in the informal supervision, mentoring, and training of Planners and deputise for the Development Management Team Leader when required.
• Work collaboratively across services, with partner authorities (including the Greater Norwich Growth Board), and support wider corporate priorities.
• Promote a culture of innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Communication

Analytical

Negotiation

Customer service

Mentoring

GIS

Planning systems

Education

Planning degree

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced planning professional seeking to take the next step in their career-working on a wide variety of development proposals, regeneration projects, policy work, and cross¿authority initiatives that directly shape the future of Norwich.,

• Work independently at a senior professional level to deliver the full range of statutory planning and development management functions.
• Provide high¿quality planning advice to applicants, agents, the public, councillors, and other stakeholders.
• Process and determine planning applications, negotiate amendments, secure planning obligations, and prepare robust reports and recommendations.
• Contribute to planning enforcement by assessing unauthorised development and advising on appropriate actions.
• Support preparation, monitoring, and review of spatial planning policies, including work linked to the Local Development Framework.
• Present cases at Planning Applications Committee and represent the Council at appeals, hearings, and public inquiries.
• Help develop and improve service performance, systems, and workflow management.
• Assist in the informal supervision, mentoring, and training of Planners and deputise for the Development Management Team Leader when required.
• Work collaboratively across services, with partner authorities (including the Greater Norwich Growth Board), and support wider corporate priorities.
• Promote a culture of innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement.
  You will be an experienced and confident planning professional who can operate effectively at a senior level. You will bring:

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• Strong understanding of planning law, development management processes, spatial planning, sustainable development, and urban regeneration.
• Significant experience processing planning applications, writing reports, preparing appeal statements, negotiating planning obligations, and providing planning advice.
• Experience working with listed buildings and conservation issues.
• Familiarity with Environmental Impact Assessment, stakeholder engagement, and service performance requirements.

Skills Required

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present at committees and public meetings.
• Strong analytical abilities and confidence interpreting plans, drawings, and technical data.
• Ability to negotiate effectively, make sound planning judgments, and manage your own workload to meet deadlines.
• Commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.
• Ability to mentor colleagues and contribute positively to team development.
• Competence using standard office and specialist planning systems, including GIS., A postgraduate degree or diploma in Planning.

Norwich City Council is one of four Councils that provide services to the City of Norwich along with Broadland District Council, South Norfolk Council and Norfolk County Council. The City Council is responsible for approximately 60% of the urban area of the City, including the historic city centre. Norwich is an innovative, creative city with big ambition for both the place and the people who live here. The fastest-growing population in the east of England, it is home to the headquarters of many global companies, in the top ten shopping destinations in the country and is the regional cultural capital. Its economic, social, cultural and environmental influence is out of all proportion to its size, and extends far beyond its boundary. But Norwich is also a tale of two cities. While the city has many positive aspects, it also has many of the tough challenges that urban centres can experience. Many city residents experience deprivation, poor educational attainment and poor health. Our position as a regional centre means there are high levels of inward travel into the city for work, shopping, cultural and leisure activities. This means many of the services the city council provides are used by people who live outside of Norwich, placing additional pressures on infrastructure. The city council has approximately 740 full time equivalent members of staff who provide a range of different services for residents and visitors. Norwich City Council offers the opportunity to work with great people who are passionate about promoting Norwich and the services the Council provides.

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package. Whether you're looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move - we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody. Norwich City Council offers the opportunity to work with great people who are passionate about promoting Norwich and the services the council provides. We also offer good career prospects with competitive rates of pay, generous holidays and working arrangements to suit all lifestyles., We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package and are proud to have the Living Wage accreditation. Whether you're looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move - we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

• All employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Paid holiday entitlement starts at 26 days per annum and increases with length of service to a maximum of 33 days per annum. This is pro rata for part-time employees
• In addition to the statutory public holidays, we grant an additional statutory day leave at Christmas
• Norwich City Council supports its employees through the provision of occupational health and employee assistance support