Planning Compliance Officer

Manchester City Council; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

Pension scheme

Enhanced parental leave

MCC perks and discounts

Job summary

Manchester City Council is recruiting a Planning Compliance Officer to investigate breaches of planning control, gather evidence and pursue enforcement actions. You will work with Planning Officers, Building Control Surveyors and other departments to ensure developments comply with approved plans.

A recognised Town Planning qualification (or equivalent experience) and a full driving licence with access to a vehicle are essential.

Qualifications

• Recognised Town Planning qualification or equivalent experience.
• Full valid driving licence and access to a vehicle.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documents, drawings and legislation.
• Experience in Development Management or planning enforcement is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Investigate breaches of planning control and gather evidence.
• Pursue enforcement actions and present evidence in inquiries or courts as required.
• Collaborate with Planning Officers, Building Control Surveyors and other Council departments to ensure compliant development.
• Read and interpret plans and legislation to determine when formal action is needed.

Skills

Reading technical documents

Professional judgement

Organisation

Education

Town Planning qualification

Driving Licence

Job description

About The Role

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Additional Payments: Essential Car Allowance

Closing Date: 31st October 2026

Closing time: 11.59pm

Interview Method: Face to Face

Legal Right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action

This role is subject to -

2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.

Qualification - Town Planning or Related Qualification (In the absence of a related qualification, the application form will need to evidence the extent of experience needed to undertake the role without the need for significant training)

Driving Licence - you must always hold a full valid driving licence

Essential Car Documentation - This post is a designated Essential Car User. Therefore, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work. You will receive the Essential Car User Allowance and City Centre car parking.

The Development Compliance Team investigates breaches of planning control, these being building work and changes of use where no planning permission has been granted; although our work is not limited to just those two areas. Through the collection and collation of evidence, together with the examination, processing and evaluation of complaints, you will work as part of a team and contribute to the performance objectives of the Planning service. Can you bring us the technical knowledge, experience, agility and innovation we need to get this done?

We are looking to recruit a Planning Compliance Officer; the role will provide the opportunity of working with varying issues, both in and out of the office where you will need to demonstrate considerable initiative and professional judgement. Working closely with Planning Officers, Building Control Surveyors and other Council Departments, you will help to ensure that development in Manchester is carried out in accordance with approved plans and where appropriate, purse more formal action when development takes place without the necessary planning permission. You will need to be able to read and interpret technical documents, drawings and legislation in order to carry out accurate site survey work.

You will be required to collect evidence to a standard needed to pursue criminal prosecution, serve enforcement and other related notices, together with presenting evidence as the Councils expert witness at Public Inquiries, Hearings or at the Magistrates Court and higher Courts where necessary.

You will hold a recognised Town Planning qualification or have good knowledge and experience of working in a Development Management or Town Planning enforcement/compliance function, which should be evidenced in your application.

A full driving license and access to a vehicle is essential to be able to undertake the full range of duties involved in this role.

Your ability to handle situations with tact and diplomacy, especially where emotions sometimes run high, together with excellent organisational and administrative skills, will each be key to the achievement and challenge of these roles.

About the Candidate

You will be required to collect evidence to a standard needed to pursue criminal prosecution, serve enforcement and other related notices, together with presenting evidence as the Councils expert witness at Public Inquiries, Hearings or at the Magistrates Court and higher Courts where necessary.

You will hold a recognised Town Planning qualification or have good knowledge and experience of working in a Development Management or Town Planning enforcement/compliance function, which should be evidenced in your application.

A full driving license and access to a vehicle is essential to be able to undertake the full range of duties involved in this role.

Your ability to handle situations with tact and diplomacy, especially where emotions sometimes run high, together with excellent organisational and administrative skills, will each be key to the achievement and challenge of these roles.

About Us

We're the local council for one of the UK's most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn't just a job - it's an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it's strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you'll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city - a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We 'own it' and we're not afraid to try new things
• We're proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension - You'll be enrolled in the UK's largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we're dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition
• If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programme

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the Supporting Statement section of your application.

When You Join Us

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [email protected].

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you've applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You'll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We'll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.
• Proof of Manchester Residency: For some roles, you may need to demonstrate that you reside within the boundaries of Manchester City Council.
• Police Vetting: Some roles may require police vetting to ensure suitability for accessing sensitive law enforcement systems or information.
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information
• Driving Licence: If the role requires driving, we'll need evidence of your valid driving licence.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we'll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

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