Planning and Economic Development Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Swindon; On-site; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Swindon Borough Council as a Planning and Economic Development Officer to influence regeneration initiatives and shape an inclusive economy. Your expertise will support strategic planning and development, aiming to improve local services and engagement while driving sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Experience within planning services in a local authority or similar.
• Direct experience supporting economic development initiatives.
• Strong understanding of planning and economic development.

Responsibilities

• Work with Head of Inward Investment to unlock planning barriers.
• Support the transformation of Swindon’s town centre.
• Ensure planning services align with sustainability goals.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Collaborative work

Customer-oriented approach

Job description

Planning and Economic Development OfficerRef: 260

Salary: £35,235 p.a. plus benefits

37 hours per week

Join Us in Shaping Swindon’s Economic Future

Swindon Borough Council is on an ambitious journey to transform how we deliver services and shape the future of our town. Our newSwindon Plan and Heart of Swindon Visionsets out a bold vision for inclusive, sustainable growth through Regeneration and inward investment in the Borough —underpinned by realistic transformation programmes and a commitment to putting people, businesses, and communities at the heart of everything we do.

As part of our recently re-positioned Planning and Economic Development teams, you will play a pivotal role in delivering this vision. You’ll be joining a forward-thinking local authority where your work will directly influence regeneration, inward investment, and the creation of a more inclusive economy. This is your opportunity to help shape a better Swindon through better services, better places and better opportunities for all.

Your role: Planning for Growth and Investment

We are seeking a planning professional withproven experience in, or understanding of both planning and economic developmentto help deliver the Council’s strategic priorities. You will provide expert advice and support from an economic development perspective across the Council’s planning functions, ensuring that planning policy and development management processes actively enable high-quality regeneration, sustainable growth, and investment.

You will:

• Work closely with theHead of Inward Investment and Inclusive Economyand theChief Planning Officerto unlock planning barriers and accelerate delivery of key regeneration and investment projects.
• Support the transformation of Swindon’s town centre and strategic employment areas.
• Ensure planning services are responsive to the needs of residents and businesses, and aligned with the Council’s inclusive economy and sustainability goals.
• Help shape the policy context to support new models of locality-based working and place leadership.

What We’re Looking For

This role is ideal for someone with a strong understanding of the intersection between planning and economic development. You may have a background in development management and planning policy but you will be expected to work flexibly across these areas to meet the evolving needs of the service.

Essential experience includes:

• A track record of working within planning services in a local authority or similar setting.
• Direct experience supporting economic development initiatives through planning policy or development management.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
• A solutions-focused, customer-oriented approach to service delivery.

Why Swindon?

Swindon is a town with huge potential. With major regeneration projects underway, a growing business base, and a commitment to inclusive growth, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us. You’ll be part of a supportive, collaborative team that’s making a real difference—shaping the places where people live, work, and invest.

Your next role

You will ordinarily focus in either development management, planning policy or planning enforcement as per the role profile but will work flexibly based on the operational needs of the service (should these change). This role is expected to focus on supporting economic development initiatives through the planning process.

Through your line manager, you will support the Chief Planning Officer and the Head of Inward Investment and Inclusive Economy to unlock planning barriers and provide the appropriate policy context to support key regeneration projects, transform the town centre and support the council’s emerging new ways of localities working.

You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act “for the effective performance of a customer-facing role”).

Your next package

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

For Swindon to thrive in the future, we need to lay the foundations now. It’s why our regeneration and transformation programmes are already underway. So, you’ll be joining us at an exciting time on our journey. We’ll look to you to share your knowledge, influence decisions and drive real, positive change. With your contributions, we’ll achieve our vision of a prosperous, re-vitalised Swindon together. And you’ll be proud to say it was made better with you.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details.

Please see our new Swindon Plan

Your next steps

Read the role profile and to apply please send your CV and cover letter to [e-mail] the ref number 260 outlining your skills and experience.

Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don’t meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion regarding the position, the organisation and the team structure, please contact Andrew Wells, Head of Inward Investment & Inclusive Economy, email [e-mail]

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read ourstatement of commitment to equality & inclusion

Closing date: 21 July 2025