Planning Enforcement Team Leader

Octave Recruitment Ltd; West Kirby; Hybrid; GBP 69,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Liverpool City Council is seeking an experienced Planning Enforcement Team Leader to head the Planning Enforcement Team within the Planning & Building Control service. This hybrid role combines senior technical planning enforcement expertise with strong leadership, reporting to senior management, and delivering high-quality customer-focused enforcement service.

You will oversee investigations, advise on enforcement actions, manage performance, and ensure compliance with planning permissions,

Qualifications

• Degree, diploma or equivalent in Town Planning, RTPI recognised.
• Significant experience in planning enforcement and/or development management.
• Experience handling major development proposals, appeals and enforcement cases.
• Experience presenting evidence at planning appeals and/or court.
• Experience training and mentoring team members.
• Strong knowledge of planning enforcement legislation and procedures.
• Excellent negotiation and verbal/written communication skills.
• Ability to manage performance and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and supervise the Planning Enforcement Team with strong leadership and performance management.
• Oversee investigation of complaints and breaches of planning control.
• Monitor development for compliance with permissions and listed building consents.
• Provide expert advice on enforcement, assess breaches and determine remedial actions.
• Determine appropriate enforcement actions for unauthorised development.
• Develop and review the Local Enforcement Plan.
• Progress enforcement cases to targets and timescales.
• Prepare reports and evidence for enforcement cases and prosecutions.
• Represent the Council in planning appeals and enforcement matters.

Skills

Planning enforcement

Development management

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Planning appeals

Education

Degree in Town Planning (RTPI recognised)

Job description

Liverpool City Council is looking for an experienced Planning Enforcement Team Leader to join its Planning & Building Control service.

About the Role

Rate: £55.00 per hour Umbrella

Contract: 4 months+

Location: Liverpool - Hybrid

This is a senior opportunity for a qualified Town Planning professional with strong experience in planning enforcement, development management, appeals and team leadership.

You will lead and manage the Planning Enforcement Team, providing expert advice on planning control and ensuring the Council delivers an effective, customer-focused and business-friendly enforcement service.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and supervise the Planning Enforcement Team, providing strong leadership, direction and performance management.
• Oversee the investigation of complaints and alleged breaches of planning control.
• Monitor development to ensure compliance with planning permissions, conditions and listed building consents.
• Provide expert advice on planning enforcement, including identifying breaches, assessing planning harm and determining appropriate remedial action.
• Determine the most appropriate and expedient enforcement action where unauthorised development or breaches of conditions occur.
• Develop, implement and regularly review the Council's Local Enforcement Plan.
• Ensure enforcement cases are progressed within agreed targets and timescales.
• Prepare reports, statements and evidence relating to planning enforcement cases.
• Collect evidence and present the Council's case in relation to prosecutions in the Magistrates' or Crown Court.
• Represent and advise the Council in relation to planning appeals and enforcement matters.

About you

We are looking for a confident and experienced planning professional who can combine technical planning enforcement expertise with strong leadership and management skills.

Essential Requirements

• Degree, diploma or equivalent experience in Town Planning, with the qualification being RTPI recognised.
• Significant professional experience within planning enforcement and/or development management.
• Demonstrable experience dealing with significant development proposals, planning appeals and enforcement cases.
• Experience of presenting evidence at planning appeals and/or court.
• Experience of training, mentoring and developing team members.
• Strong knowledge of planning enforcement legislation, procedures and best practice.
• Excellent negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage performance, prioritise workloads and deliver against deadlines.
• Ability to provide authoritative professional planning advice and make sound enforcement decisions.

Desirable

• MRTPI membership/status or further relevant professional training.
• Experience within a local authority planning environment.
• Experience of prosecution and court proceedings.
• Full UK driving licence.

Working Pattern

This is a hybrid role, with an expectation of 3 days per week in the Liverpool City Council office and 2 days working remotely.

The role is predominantly office based, although occasional site visits will be required