Planning Officer

Lewisham Youth Service; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family-friendly policies

Season tickets

Bike loans

Gym membership

Staff networks

Job summary

Lewisham Council is seeking a forward-thinking Town Planner to join our planning team. You will manage the full process for planning applications, pre-applications, and appeals, with a focus on delivering high-quality planning outcomes across diverse sites in Lewisham.

You will work within a hybrid model from Laurence House, Catford, and contribute to the borough's Local Plan and emerging housing strategies while supporting some major projects and community growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• RTPI accredited degree preferred.
• Experience preparing planning reports and recommendations.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple demands.

Responsibilities

• Manage full process for planning applications, pre-applications and appeals.
• Conduct consultations, site visits and proposal appraisals.
• Prepare reports with recommendations including conditions or reasons for refusal.
• Present applications to the planning committee when needed.
• Support Written Representations and public inquiries/hearings.

Skills

Planning knowledge

Communication

IT skills

Organisational skills

Education

RTPI accredited degree

Tools

PPAs

Job description

• Locations 1 Catford Road, London, SE6 4RU, GB
• Job Schedule Full time

Job Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham, where your work makes a meaningful difference to our vibrant and diverse communities.

Lewisham is proud of its long history of welcoming people from all over the world and its recognition as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary. As we continue to grow and evolve, we are committed to shaping neighbourhoods that are inclusive, resilient, and well designed.

Introduction

Do you want to be involved in a varied range of work that ranges from award winning residential extensions and developments, work contributing to our ambitious small sites programme and supporting the growth of our high streets.

Then this role is for you – join our high-performing, nationally ‘Gold Rated’ planning team.

From Lewisham Town Centre with its major shopping centre and market, Deptford’s nightlife to Blackheath's village atmosphere and the woodlands of Beckenham Place Park, Lewisham is one of London’s most diverse and rapidly evolving areas. We now have a unique opportunity for a forward-thinking town planner to use design‑led densification to help create and shape vibrant, well-designed neighbourhoods where people can truly thrive.

Our newly adopted Local Plan has a vision for the borough to 2040, and we have huge ambition for new housing growth and investment in our places.

As a planner in our area teams, you’ll responsible for processing a wide range of planning applications, providing a valuable opportunity to develop your skills and advance your career in planning. We're seeking motivated and enthusiastic candidates who are passionate about planning and ready to grow and make a difference.

What’s the role?

This is a one-year fixed term post designed to provide cover while we work on the MHCLG Small Sites Accelerator. You will manage the full process for planning and related applications with a particular focus on Small Sites housing schemes and major applications.

You’ll manage the full process for planning applications, pre-applications, and appeals. Working as part of a team, you’ll be supported by a Team Leader, Principal, and Senior Officers who will provide guidance and mentorship. Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting consultations, site visits, and proposal appraisals.
• Negotiating with applicants and addressing objections on your cases.
• Prepare comprehensive reports with recommendations, including conditions or reasons for refusal.
• Present applications to the planning committee when needed.
• Prepare statements for Written Representation Appeals and support the preparation and presentation of evidence at Public Inquiries and Hearings.

What’s in it for you?

You will gain substantial experience development management across a varied caseload and excellent training and development opportunities.

The council also offers a range of generous benefits, including:

• Family-friendly policies,
• Season ticket and bicycle loans,
• Subsidised gym memberships, and
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for

You will be a town planner with relevant experience, who has a good appreciation of London and national politics and have the ability to work independently, managing a range of competing demands with initiative. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as the role involves working closely with applicants, residents, consultants and colleagues across the council.

You should bring:

• Good organisational, written and verbal communication and IT skills
• Ability to prioritise and allocate work to meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and consistency in planning recommendations and advice for various customers.
• Familiarity with Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) and their role in managing complex or strategic planning applications.
• Research and analytical skills to stay informed and continually expand your planning knowledge, whilst taking account of corporate priorities.

Location

The role is based at Laurence House, Catford, with hybrid working (minimum two days a week in the office, currently Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

• The successful candidate will ideally hold a RTPI accredited undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
• Occasional weeknight working is required for this job (Planning Committees are held in the evening)

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CV’s.

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

We are recognised by the Mayor of London with the ‘Good Work Standard’ having ‘Excellent’ status which recognised our commitment to fair working and pay conditions and all-round support offers.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works , which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please [e-mail] and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.