Planning Lead for Development Management

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave

LGPS

Wellbeing program

Private health care

EV salary sacrifice

Volunteer days

Flexible working

Learning & development

Job summary

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are seeking a Planning Lead for Development Management, known internally as the Strategic and Professional Lead for Development Management. You will sit at the heart of our growth and placemaking agenda, guiding complex proposals and championing high‑quality design.

Reporting to the Chief Planning Officer, you will work with communities, partners and internal teams to deliver inclusive growth and sustainable places.

Qualifications

• At least five years’ post‑qualification experience and eligibility for membership of a professional body.
• Sound knowledge of planning legislation, the NPPF and local and community policies.
• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills.
• A creative and pragmatic approach to delivering the best outcomes possible with people and local communities at the forefront.
• A commitment to mentoring and supporting staff to be the best they can be at all times.

Responsibilities

• developing strategies for complex development proposals.
• championing exemplary design and placemaking.
• leading and managing the representation of the Councils at appeal or in major and complex planning proceedings to safeguard robust decision making, which meets the high standards we expect.
• production and delivery of the Service Plan and associated business, service improvement and project plans.
• working with and supporting our communities to play their part in delivering the Councils’ vision for sustainable growth.
• building strong and productive relationships with internal teams and external partners.
• supporting and mentoring team members with continuous professional development.

Skills

Leadership

Planning law knowledge

Design and placemaking

Communication skills

Mentoring staff

Education

Professional body membership eligibility

Job description

• Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
• Address: Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
• Hours: Full Time, 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent

• Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
• Address: Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX
• Salary: £55,224 - £65,092 plus £3,661.32 market forces supplement per annum (pro rata for part time)
• Hours: Full Time, 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent

This role is open to full time, part time, and job share applications, all of which will be assessed equally.

Join our team

As Planning Lead for Development Management, known internally as the Strategic and Professional Lead for Development Management, you will work at the centre of the councils’ growth and placemaking agenda.

If you share our values and you are motivated to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities, we would love to hear from you.

About The Role

We relish a challenge and we believe the significant expectations placed on us to deliver new homes and business is also an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy which will also shape the future of the districts.

Reporting to the Chief Planning Officer, your role will place you at the centre of this agenda, helping to support inclusive growth, climate resilience, our environmental ambitions and the creation of high-quality places for communities.

Responsibilities will include:

• developing strategies for complex development proposals.
• championing exemplary design and placemaking.
• leading and managing the representation of the Councils at appeal or in major and complex planning proceedings to safeguard robust decision making, which meets the high standards we expect.
• production and delivery of the Service Plan and associated business, service improvement and project plans.
• working with and supporting our communities to play their part in delivering the Councils’ vision for sustainable growth.
• building strong and productive relationships with internal teams and external partners.
• supporting and mentoring team members with continuous professional development.

About You

We are looking for a professional leader who will champion exemplary design and sustainable placemaking.

Key skills and experience:

• at least five years’ post‑qualification experience and eligibility for membership of an appropriate professional body.
• sound knowledge of planning legislation, the NPPF and local and community policies.
• exemplary written and verbal communication skills.
• a creative and pragmatic approach to delivering the best outcomes possible with people and local communities at the forefront of these outcomes.
• a commitment to mentoring and supporting staff to be the best they can be at all times.
• a commitment to our values and behaviours and our culture of continuous improvement.

About Us

At Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils we are passionate about building communities that people want to live, work, visit and invest in.

We serve around 200,000 residents across our two districts and are well known for our collaboration and partnership working across public, private and voluntary sectors.

We believe that the heart of Suffolk is an incredibly special place to live and work, with:

• 60 conservation areas
• two National Landscapes
• many picturesque market towns

It is no surprise we are ranked among the top 50 places to live in the UK (United Kingdom).

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous leave entitlement (26 days a year, rising to 31 days after 5 years).
• Competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Wellbeing Support and Employee Assistance Programs.
• Private Health Care Options.
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (Business needs permitting).
• Great learning and development opportunities.

For more information, visit our Employee Benefits page.

Our ways of working

We believe work is what we do, not just where we go.

We work in a hybrid way, with a mix of office, home, and remote based working (Business need permitting). Our hybrid working arrangements support flexibility and collaboration, helping our teams to thrive.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, providing opportunity and ambition for all, supporting and enabling our people to deliver the best possible services for our residents.

For more information

Please contact Philip Isbell by either calling 07740 179172 or emailing [e-mail].

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification (pdf) before applying for this job opportunity.

Closing date: 5.00pm, 24 November 2026.