Planning Officer

R&R Housing; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

A London Local Authority is recruiting a Planning Officer to manage its most complex and major applications, including strategic sites and large developments. The role is based in South East London with a 6-month contract and a 1 day in-office / 4 days remote work pattern (occasional committee attendance).

You will prepare reports for Planning Committee and the Assistant Director, lead pre-application discussions, manage S106 obligations, handle appeals and enforcement, and provide expert advice

Qualifications

• Extensive Local Authority planning experience.
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation and policy.
• Experience handling major/complex planning applications.
• Experience with PPAs and pre-application work.
• Planning appeals, enforcement and committee experience.
• Confidence advising Councillors and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to sign off delegated applications.
• Ideally experience presenting evidence at appeals/inquiries.
• Recent UK Local Authority planning experience is essential.

Responsibilities

• Managing the borough's most complex and major planning applications, including strategic sites and large developments.
• Preparing reports and recommendations for Planning Committee / Assistant Director, including delegated decisions.
• Leading major pre-application discussions and Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs).
• Managing complex S106 and other planning obligations.
• Handling/assisting with planning appeals and enforcement.
• Providing expert planning advice to Councillors, stakeholders and planning officers.
• Representing the Council at public inquiries, hearings and court.
• Signing off applications under delegated authority.
• Supervising, mentoring and supporting more junior planning staff.
• Representing the Assistant Director at committee when required.

Skills

Local Authority planning

Planning legislation

Major/complex applications

PPAs & pre-application

Appeals & enforcement

Councillor liaison

Delegated decisions

Public inquiries

Job description

I’m currently supporting A London Local Authority with the recruitment of a Planning Officer.

Location: South East London

Contract: 6 months (strong possibility of extension)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Work Pattern: 1 day in office/ 4 days remote (committee attendance occasionally required)

This is a complex planning role, focused on:

• Managing the borough's most complex and major planning applications, including strategic sites and large developments.
• Preparing reports and recommendations for Planning Committee / Assistant Director, including delegated decisions.
• Leading major pre-application discussions and Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs).
• Managing complex S106 and other planning obligations.
• Handling/assisting with planning appeals and enforcement.
• Providing expert planning advice to Councillors, stakeholders and planning officers.
• Representing the Council at public inquiries, hearings and court.
• Signing off applications under delegated authority.
• Supervising, mentoring and supporting more junior planning staff.
• Representing the Assistant Director at committee when required.

The strongest candidate would have:

• Extensive Local Authority planning experience
• Strong knowledge of planning legislation and policy
• Experience handling major/complex planning applications
• Experience with PPAs and pre-application work
• Planning appeals, enforcement and committee experience
• Confidence advising Councillors and senior stakeholders
• Ability to sign off delegated applications
• Ideally experience presenting evidence at appeals/inquiries

Recent UK Local Authority planning experience is essential.