Planning Officer

Civic Recruitment Limited; Woolwich; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Borough of Greenwich in London is seeking a Principal Planning Officer to manage a varied and complex caseload of planning applications and provide professional planning advice to support high-quality development management services.

The post holder will lead on complex proposals, represent the Council at planning appeals, and supervise junior officers within the Planning – Development Management service.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a Development Management planning environment.
• Experience assessing and determining a wide range of planning applications, including complex and major developments.
• Experience preparing and presenting planning applications at Planning Committee.
• Experience representing an organisation at planning appeals, hearings, and/or Public Inquiries.
• Experience providing professional planning advice to applicants, developers, elected members, and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage and determine a complex caseload of planning applications, including major and sensitive developments.
• Lead the assessment, evaluation, and negotiation of planning proposals in accordance with planning policies.
• Undertake site inspections, consultations, stakeholder engagement, and negotiations to support planning recommendations.
• Prepare high-quality planning reports, legal documents, and committee reports.
• Provide expert planning advice to applicants, developers, councillors, and members of the public.
• Deliver pre-application advice and guidance in accordance with planning legislation and Council policies.
• Ensure decisions are legally compliant, robust, and defensible.
• Lead on planning appeals, including written representations, hearings, and Public Inquiries.
• Represent the Council before the Planning Inspectorate and other bodies.

Skills

Development Management

Planning experience

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Report writing

Leadership

Mentoring

Project management

Education

Degree in Town Planning

MRTPI

Postgraduate qualification in Planning

Tools

Planning systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Woolwich, United Kingdom | Posted on 14/07/2026

At Civic Recruitment and Limited, we know that individuals are more than just fixed expenses; they are the cornerstone of every thriving organisation. That’s why we are passionate about transforming recruitment in the public and private sectors. In the modern job market, organisations in both public and private sectors face significant workforce challenges. Public sector entities, such as local councils and central government departments, often struggle with lengthy recruitment processes, limited access to qualified candidates, and stringent budgetary and regulatory constraints. Private sector businesses, on the other hand, encounter high turnover rates, difficulties managing a mix of permanent and temporary staff, and challenges in sourcing specialised talent for niche industries. These sector‑specific obstacles, coupled with the universal complexities of payroll management, create a pressing need for efficient workforce solutions. Civic Recruitment Limited addresses these challenges with innovative recruitment and payroll solutions tailored for diverse organisational needs. Recognising the critical hurdles organisations face, the company leverages its expertise to streamline processes, reduce recruitment times, and alleviate administrative burdens. With an extensive database of over 1 million pre‑screened candidates, Civic Recruitment Limited is well‑positioned to cater to the specific needs of both public and private sectors.

Job Description

6 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Title: Planning Officer

Job Purpose

The Principal Planning Officer is responsible for managing an varied and complex caseload of planning applications, providing professional planning advice, and supporting the delivery of high-quality development management services within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The post holder will lead on the assessment and determination of complex planning applications, represent the Council at planning appeals and public inquiries, provide pre‑application advice, supervise junior officers, and contribute to the achievement of the Council's planning, regeneration, and growth objectives. The role requires a detailed understanding of planning legislation, policy, and development management processes to ensure sound and defensible planning decisions are made in the public interest.

Key Responsibilities

Development Management

• Manageand determine a complex caseload of planning applications, including majorand sensitive developments.
• Leadthe assessment, evaluation, and negotiation of planning proposals in accordance with national, regional, and local planning policies.
• Undertakesite inspections, consultations, stakeholder engagement, and negotiations to support planning recommendations.
• Preparehigh-quality planning reports, legal documents, and committee reports.
• Provideexpert planning advice to applicants, developers, consultants, councillors, and members of the public.
• Deliverpre-application advice and guidance in accordance with planninglegislation and Council policies.
• Ensuredecisions are legally compliant, robust, and defensible.

Appeals, Enforcement and Planning Advice

• Leadon planning appeals, including written representations, hearings, and Public Inquiries.
• Representthe Council before the Planning Inspectorate and other relevant bodies.
• Prepareappeal statements and evidence within statutory deadlines.
• Assistwith planning enforcement matters, including enforcement notices, appeals, and prosecution cases where required.
• Interpretand apply planning legislation, case law, and policy guidance to complexdevelopment proposals.

Leadership and Team Management

• Supervise,mentor, and support junior planning officers, graduate planners, andtrainees.
• Providetechnical guidance and quality assurance for reports and recommendations prepared by team members.
• Leadon staff development, training, coaching, and performance improvementactivities.
• Deputisefor the Deputy Team Manager when required.
• Supportservice improvement initiatives and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and best practice.

Stakeholder and Customer Engagement

• Representthe Planning Service at Planning Committees, working groups, publicmeetings, and community events.
• Buildproductive relationships with developers, consultants, residents, statutory consultees, councillors, and partner organisations.
• Coordinateeffective stakeholder engagement throughout planning applicationprocesses.
• Delivera customer-focused service while balancing competing priorities and statutory responsibilities.

Strategic Planning and Regeneration

• Supportthe delivery of the Council’s regeneration, growth, and developmentobjectives.
• Contributeto strategic planning projects and major regeneration initiatives.
• Workcollaboratively with public and private sector partners to secure high-quality development outcomes.
• Commissionand manage external consultants where appropriate.
• Leadprojects and initiatives that support planning service improvement andinnovation.

Performance and Governance

• Ensureplanning performance targets, service standards, and statutory deadlines are achieved.
• Maintainaccurate planning records and case management systems.
• Ensurecompliance with planning legislation, corporate governance requirements, and council procedures.
• Contributeto service planning, performance monitoring, and continuous improvementactivities.
• Promoteequal opportunities, customer care, health and safety, GDPR, and Councilpolicies in all areas of work.

Experience Required

• Significantexperience working within a Development Management Planning environment.
• Experienceassessing and determining a wide range of planning applications, including complex and major developments.
• Experiencepreparing and presenting planning applications at Planning Committee.
• Experiencerepresenting an organisation at planning appeals, hearings, and/or PublicInquiries.
• Experienceproviding professional planning advice to applicants, developers, electedmembers, and stakeholders.
• Experiencenegotiating planning solutions and securing positive development outcomes.
• Experiencesupervising, mentoring, or supporting junior members of staff.
• Experienceproducing high-quality technical reports and policy-based recommendations.
• Experiencemanaging competing priorities and working to strict statutory deadlines.
• Experiencewithin a London Borough or Local Authority planning service.
• Experiencewith major regeneration and strategic development projects.
• Experiencemanaging consultant commissions and project budgets.
• Experienceleading service improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Degreein Town Planning, Urban Planning, Planning and Development, or a relateddiscipline.
• Eligibilityfor membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) or equivalent professional body.
• Minimumof three years' post-qualification planning experience.
• FullMembership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI).
• Postgraduatequalification in Planning or a related subject.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thoroughknowledge of the Town and Country Planning Acts and associatedlegislation.
• Strongunderstanding of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), LondonPlan, and local planning policies.
• Excellentreport writing and presentation skills.
• Stronganalytical, investigative, and decision-making abilities.
• Abilityto interpret complex planning legislation, policy, and case law.
• Excellentnegotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strongorganisational and project management capabilities.
• Abilityto manage complex caseloads with minimal supervision.
• Effectiveleadership, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Excellentverbal and written communication skills.
• Strongcustomer service and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiencyin planning systems, databases, and Microsoft Office applications.

Additional Information

• Employer: Royal Borough of Greenwich
• Grade: PO3 – PO4
• Department: Place and Growth
• ServiceArea: Planning – Development Management
• Location: Greenwich, London
• Hours: 35 hours per week
• WorkingPattern: Full-time
• ReportingTo: Team Manager / Deputy Team Manager
• DBSRequirement: No DBS required
• CareerProgression: Career graded post with progression opportunities in accordance with the Council's Career Grade Scheme.

Closing Date: soon (early applications encouraged