Planning Support Officer

Huntingdonshhire District Council; Huntingdon; Hybrid; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative local authority is seeking a passionate Planning Policy Officer to contribute to the development of a new Local Plan. This role offers the opportunity to engage with communities, shape policies for sustainable growth, and enhance the district's natural and historic environment. As part of a small team, you will enjoy a diverse workload and support in developing your skills. With a hybrid working model and a commitment to work-life balance, this position is ideal for a qualified Town Planner eager to make a meaningful impact in a supportive environment. Join us in creating a vibrant future for our district!

Benefits

Flexi-time

Work-life balance opportunities

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Qualified Town Planner with experience in policy development and community engagement.
• Ability to balance growth with conservation efforts.

Responsibilities

• Shape policies for effective place-making and support local communities.
• Monitor development and prepare housing delivery reports.

Skills

Town Planning

Policy Development

Community Engagement

Project Management

Education

Qualified Town Planner

Job description

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high-quality services to our communities, residents, and businesses. This means we must employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people.

Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision-making.

At HDC we want to employ staff who embody our icare values (Inspiring, Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Enterprising), all of which support our ultimate purpose of putting our customers first.

Job Details

Are you an enthusiastic town planner keen to be involved in plan-making in a district with a positive attitude towards growth? We're looking for a Planning Policy Officer excited to shape good place-making, create positive policies, and support our growth. You'll also need to balance this with the conservation and enhancement of our natural and historic environment.

If you're a qualified Town Planner with some experience looking to take that next step, this could be the ideal role for you. As a small team, we will ensure you get a diverse workload and will support you with opportunities to use your initiative and develop your skills and interests.

We started our new Local Plan in 2023, so this is an ideal time to join the team as we analyse our evidence, select potential site allocations for development, and draft our policies. You'll also support our local communities, organisations, and businesses to help them engage in preparation of our Local Plan and prepare Neighbourhood Plans.

You will also play a key role in assessing the delivery of development in the district. You will work alongside our Planning Apprentice to monitor development and to prepare our housing delivery trajectory and annual monitoring report.

An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. Huntingdonshire District Council does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and is unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role.

Apply

To apply for this position please complete the application form. The closing date is 9am 19 February 2025 and interviews will be held the week commencing 26 February 2025. However, this is a rolling campaign and we'll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and will close the advert early should we receive suitable applications, so please don't delay in applying!

We are currently working on a hybrid model with 2 - 3 days in the office each week and the balance working from home to ensure that teams benefit from in-person interaction. The option to be fully office-based is available if preferred. Our working pattern includes flexi-time opportunities in order to provide a good work-life balance. Candidates should therefore be within commutable distance of our offices in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire or able to attend meetings as required if further afield.

Should you have any additional questions regarding submitting an application, please contact the Recruitment Team.

Please note that the official closing date is as above, and will be the correct date. Some third-party websites may have different dates. Please refer to the HDC website for the official closing date to ensure you do not miss out on applying.

Working for the Council

As an employer who values diversity of thought, we seek to employ candidates from a range of backgrounds in order to make our organisation more innovative. We are seeking candidates who are looking for their next career opportunity and are supportive employers, enabling our staff to work in an environment that produces high standards of work in an employee-led environment.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of our recruitment and along with our values we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community and we offer a range of benefits, including flexitime, to encourage a work-life balance.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme