Planning Enforcement Officer

Wiltshire Career Site; Trowbridge; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

Wiltshire Council is seeking a Planning Enforcement Officer for a 12‑month maternity cover. The role involves investigating breaches of planning control, visiting sites and negotiating proportionate enforcement actions to protect local amenity and sustainable development.

You will manage a varied caseload, prepare reports and notices, and support appeals or prosecutions as required. A full UK driving licence is essential for site visits across Wiltshire.

Qualifications

• Experience in planning enforcement or regulatory investigation.
• Strong report writing and communication skills.
• Ability to assess evidence and make reasoned decisions.

Responsibilities

• Investigate alleged breaches of planning control and secure outcomes.
• Balance caseloads and apply proportionate enforcement actions.
• Prepare reports, notices and support appeals or prosecutions where needed.
• Visit sites, liaise with applicants, agents, complainants and partner services.

Skills

Planning enforcement

Regulatory investigation

Evidence assessment

Site visits

Communication

Report writing

Driving licence

Job description

Salary: £38,510 - £40,444 per annum

Hours per week: 37 hours

Fixed term: 12 months, maternity cover

Interview date: To be confirmed following shortlisting

Are you looking for a varied and rewarding role where your judgement, communication skills and planning knowledge can make a real difference to communities?

Our Planning Service is central to shaping sustainable, well-designed places across Wiltshire. We support responsible growth by making robust, proportionate and policy-led decisions that help deliver new homes, employment opportunities and high-quality places in line with our adopted Local Plan.

We are seeking a motivated Planning Enforcement Officer to join our friendly and experienced team on a 12-month maternity cover contract. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with planning or regulatory experience who enjoys problem-solving, site-based investigation, negotiation and working with a wide range of people.

As part of our Enforcement Team, you will help maintain public confidence in the planning system by investigating alleged breaches of planning control and securing positive, practical outcomes.

No two days are the same: you will manage a varied caseload, balance negotiation with proportionate enforcement action, and help remedy planning harm while protecting local amenity and supporting sustainable development.

In this role, you will investigate matters such as unauthorised development, listed buildings, advertisements, protected trees and changes of use. You will assess evidence, visit sites, liaise with applicants, agents, complainants, elected members and partner services, and decide the most appropriate course of action. Depending on the case, this may include resolving matters through negotiation, preparing formal reports and notices, supporting appeals, drafting witness statements and contributing to prosecution files where necessary.

About you

• You may already have experience in planning enforcement, development management, conservation, regulatory investigation or another relevant field; alternatively, you may bring equivalent experience and transferable skills from a related role.
• You will be confident applying legislation, policy or procedures in a fair, balanced and proportionate way, and keen to develop your knowledge of planning enforcement practice.
• You will enjoy investigating issues, assessing evidence, visiting sites, identifying planning harm and making sound recommendations based on the facts of each case.
• You will be a clear and confident communicator, able to explain decisions, manage sensitive conversations and prepare well-structured reports, correspondence, notices or statements.
• You will be organised, resilient and comfortable managing a varied caseload, balancing competing priorities and working effectively with colleagues, customers, elected members and partner services.
• A full UK driving licence is required, as the role involves site visits across Wiltshire.
  This role may be subject to certain security checks; please see the role description for more information.

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Find out more about Our Identity, staff networks, and employee benefits here.

Our hybrid working model means office staff are on site for at least half their hours, community-based staff carry out at least half their admin time in a workplace, and customer‑facing roles work entirely from their service location.

We are committed to creating a workplace where positive relationships thrive and everyone feels engaged, supported and able to do their best. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Everyone is expected to promote a culture of inclusion, dignity, trust and respect, guided by our vision and Our Identity.

Contact details

Darren Hobson, Planning Enforcement Manager, at [e-mail], or call 01722 434 624.

Please ensure to regularly check your spam or junk folder for any communication from us regarding the status of your application.

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We are firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to the principles of inclusion and diversity in both employment and the delivery of services.

Statement of commitment to equality and inclusion

Disability Confident Employer

Application process

Wiltshire Council does not accept unsolicited CVs or candidate details from recruitment agencies that are not appointed under a current, valid contract or approved supplier arrangement (including through our neutral vendor, Comensura).

Submission of unsolicited CVs or candidate details to the Council, whether directly or to individual employees, will not be considered as an introduction and will not create any obligation on the Council to pay any fees. If a candidate whose details have been submitted speculatively is subsequently appointed through a compliant route, no agency fee will be payable in respect of the unsolicited submission.

Agencies wishing to work with the Council must do so only via our approved procurement processes and neutral vendor arrangements.