Planning Officer - Development Management and Enforcement roles

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; England; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A government planning agency in the UK is seeking a Planning Officer to investigate breaches of planning control. The ideal candidate will possess experience in planning enforcement, strong negotiation skills, and a relevant degree. Responsibilities include preparing reports, liaising with stakeholders, and advising on compliance with planning law. This role offers a competitive salary and a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Opportunities for professional development

Friendly supportive team

Hybrid working

Qualifications

• Experience in investigating breaches of planning control.
• Ability to provide advice and conduct negotiations.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Investigate breaches of planning control.
• Prepare reports for enforcement proceedings.
• Liaise with various stakeholders.

Skills

Experience in planning

Customer service skills

Knowledge of relevant law and policy

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Education

Planning or relevant degree qualification

Job description

Planning Officer - Enforcement

Hailsham / Hybrid

Permanent / Full Time

£42,788.64 - £44,695.08 (includes essential car allowance)

Application Deadline: 03/12/2025

Interview Date: 11/12/2025

Are you an experienced planner that wants to ensure that development is carried out in a compliant manner as well as protecting our environment and communities from unauthorised works? Then this role is for you!

Who are we looking for?

The Planning Enforcement Team is dedicated to ensuring our communities have a good quality of life and that our built and natural environments are protected by taking robust but proportionate action in relation to breaches of planning control.

This role would consider a variety of breaches of planning in the district, so we’re looking for someone who has experience in investigating such matters and is able to conclude them effectively and efficiently.

What will the role involve?

• Investigating breaches of planning control, in a variety of urban and rural settings.
• Preparing reports to make recommendations on appropriate enforcement proceedings, presenting those schemes to planning committee where required.
• Providing advice and conducting negotiations with contraveners to achieve the best possible outcomes and deliver 5-star customer service.
• Liaising with various stakeholders, including residents, officers from other service sections, elected members, and external bodies ensuring they are appropriately updated ion the progress and outcome of investigation.
• Providing informal support and mentoring for junior officers.

What skills, knowledge and abilities do you require for the role?

• Experience in planning and the application of expert knowledge within a enforcement and development management context.
• Customer service skills, being particularly adept at speaking with those who have conflicting demands and priorities.
• Knowledge of relevant law, policy and guidance related to planning and related matters.
• Communication and negotiation skills, being able to discuss breaches in a clear, constructive, and professional manner to achieve robust and proportionate outcomes.
• Experience of defending actions taken by the Council at appeal or via legal proceedings.

For more information

For more information and an informal chat about the opportunity please contact Jon Honeysett, Planning Enforcement Team Leader, on 01892 602409 or Samuel Batchelor, Development Manager, on 01892 602552.

Planning Officer - Development Management

Hailsham / Hybrid

Permanent / Full-Time and Part-Time position available

£42,788.64 - £44,695.08 (includes essential car allowance)

Application Deadline: 03/12/2025

Interview Date: 11/12/2025

Who are we looking for?

Wealden District Council is committed to delivering sustainable development and providing our communities with a 5 star planning service.

This is an opportunity for someone who has some planning experience and wants to further their career or for someone who is adept at dealing with a variety of application types but wants to do that in a district with a varied history and landscape.

You will be part of a team that helps to process around 3000 applications, applying planning law and policy and delivering positive outcomes for our communities and businesses.

What will the role involve?

• Preparing planning reports on development proposals.
• Providing advice and conducting negotiations with applicants to achieve the best possible outcomes and deliver 5-star customer service.
• Liaising with various stakeholders, including residents, officers from other service sections, elected members, and external bodies to ensure material consideration are taken into account and that decision making is open and transparent.
• Engaging in pre-application discussions, taking opportunities to front load planning considerations and make the formal planning application process run smoothly.
• Dealing with planning appeals.

What skills, knowledge and abilities do you require for the role?

• Experience in planning and the application of expert knowledge within a planning policy or development management context, including at appeal.
• Customer service skills, being particularly adept at speaking with those who have conflicting demands and priorities. Knowledge of relevant law, policy and guidance related to planning and related matters.
• Communication and negotiation skills being able to discuss proposals in a positive, constructive, and professional manner to deliver Positive Planning outcomes.
• A planning or relevant degree qualification or, as an alternative, considerable experience in planning matters.

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary & pension scheme.
• A friendly, supportive team.
• Opportunities for continuing professional development.
• Hybrid working.

For more information

For more information and an informal chat about opportunities please contact Stephanie Wood on 01892 602474 or Caitlin Boddy on 01892 602539.

About Wealden

Wealden District Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We are committed to maintaining a diverse workforce and an inclusive work environment. We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities, and all applications will be treated on merit.

Ethical Use of AI in Applications

We welcome innovation and do not automatically exclude candidates who use AI tools during the application process. However, we assess each application to ensure the candidate genuinely understands the role and its requirements.

AI may be used ethically and responsibly, provided it supports, rather than compromises our core values of integrity, transparency, and fairness. During assessments and interviews, candidates must present their own skills and experience without assistance from others, external resources, or AI, unless explicitly instructed otherwise.