Planning Consultant

Venn Group; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading County Council is seeking a senior Planning Consultant for a strategic review of their planning enforcement practices. This hybrid position offers a competitive daily rate and the opportunity to lead improvements in planning processes across the County. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in local government planning, and the ability to provide actionable recommendations based on a thorough review of existing policies.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in local government planning and enforcement.
• Ability to work independently.
• Provide clear, objective overview of planning initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Review current planning and enforcement policies and practices.
• Engage with key stakeholders to gather insights.
• Deliver evidence-based report with strategic recommendations.

Skills

Understanding of UK planning legislation

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic report delivery

Job description

Planning Consultant – Strategic Review
£500–£600 per day | North West | Hybrid
Outside IR35

2-3 month Project

A County Council is seeking an experienced Planning Professional to undertake a high-level, independent review of its planning enforcement approach and service standards across the County.

We’re looking for a senior-level expert who can provide a clear, objective overview of the Council’s current planning initiatives, enforcement activity, and service performance—identifying strengths, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

Key Objectives:

• Review current planning and enforcement policies, practices, and casework across the County.
• Engage with key internal stakeholders and service users to gather insight and feedback.
• Evaluate compliance with relevant standards and best practices.
• Deliver a clear, evidence-based report with strategic recommendations.

What We’re Looking For:

• A senior planning professional with extensive experience in local government planning and enforcement.
• Strong understanding of UK planning legislation, enforcement procedures, and local authority frameworks.
• Ability to work independently, engaging confidently with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience delivering strategic reports and actionable recommendations.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future direction of planning enforcement in one of the largest counties in the UK. If you have the expertise and the leadership to support this transition, we’d love to hear from you.