Planning Technician

Somerset County Council; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

LGPS pension

Flexible & hybrid working

Health and wellbeing support

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council is seeking a Planning Technician to validate, process and assess planning applications, delivering technical and administrative support across the planning service. You will advise customers and manage enquiries, ensuring compliance with legislation and service standards.

You will also handle system administration, data management, consultations and reporting, applying sound judgement to resolve queries and maintain high-quality planning records.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of planning legislation and related processes.
• Experience dealing with the public and managing planning applications.
• Experience with databases and generating performance reports.
• GCSE English and Maths, or equivalent, with education to A-level standard.
• Excellent customer service and organisational skills.
• Strong teamwork and communication abilities.
• Proficiency with IT systems including databases, finance and stock ordering.

Responsibilities

• Validate and process planning applications and service requests.
• Provide technical and administrative support across the planning service.
• Offer clear, accurate advice to customers while managing enquiries within statutory requirements.
• Support system administration, data management, consultations and reporting.
• Maintain records and ensure data quality across planning systems (Uniform, Acolaid).
• Coordinate projects and provide guidance to colleagues as needed.

Skills

Planning legislation

Customer service

Data reporting

Communication skills

Teamwork

IT literacy

Prioritisation

Education

GCSE English & Maths

A-levels

Tools

Uniform

Acolaid

Database systems

Job description

Salary: Grade 12, Ranging from £29,542 to £33,119 per annum.

Contract: Fixed Term/ Secondment Opportunity until 22 June 2027.

Hours: 37 Hours a week, Based at Bridgwater House.

Closing date: 19th October 2026

About the Role

The Planning Technician is a multi-skilled case officer responsible for validating, processing and assessing a wide range of planning applications and service requests. You will provide technical and administrative support across the planning service, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, policies and procedures.

As a key point of contact, you will deliver clear and accurate advice to customers, businesses and colleagues, managing enquiries and cases efficiently within statutory requirements and service standards. You will also support service delivery through system administration, data management, consultation processes and report production, applying sound judgement to resolve technical queries and maintain high-quality systems in relation to Planning, Enforcement & Appeals.

With a strong focus on customer service, you will contribute to continuous improvement and the effective delivery of a high-quality, collaborative planning service.

How You'll Make a Difference

• Evaluation of planning applications, plans and reports, ensuring compliance with legislation; act as the main point of contact for customers, managing enquiries, investigations and case resolutions with a strong focus on service excellence.
• Support the smooth running of the service through a broad range of activities including system administration, validation and consultations; procurement, invoicing and debt management; data management, reporting, FOI responses and meeting support.
• Stay up to date with legislation, policy and procedures to provide clear, practical advice to customers and colleagues; contribute to legal processes where required, including preparing statements and attending court.
• Manage a varied caseload of application validation, appeals, enforcement cases and technical queries; work collaboratively with customers, businesses and partners to find solutions; prioritise competing demands and resolve complaints effectively.
• Apply technical expertise to manage and resolve service requests in line with policy; maintain and improve key systems (including Uniform and Acolaid), ensuring compliance with evolving legislation.
• Support and coordinate projects such as system and legislative changes; maintain accurate records and ensure data quality across systems, providing guidance and training to colleagues where needed.

What You'll Bring

• Knowledge of planning legislation, previous work experience that demonstrates the required knowledge and skills
• Experience of dealing with members of the public and of case managing planning applications
• Experience of working with a variety of databases and generating reports for performance management and audit purposes
• GCSE in English and Mathematics or equivalent experience and Educated to A-level standard or equivalent experience
• Excellent customer service and organisational skills
• Works well within a team and has good communication skills
• Excellent IT user familiar with database, financial and stock ordering systems and able to work at speed accurately
• Ability to follow operating procedures accurately and contribute to their development
• Ability to manage difficult situations and deal sympathetically and empathetically with members of the public as well as building and maintaining good working relationships with colleagues, partners and business representatives
• Flexible, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and manage a varied workload whilst contributing positively and innovatively to service review and development
• Ability to demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to problem solving and recognise when issues need to be referred to more experienced officers

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most enhanced and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council: https://www.somerset.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/working-at-somerset-council/

Further Information

• 28 day's annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
• This role offers hybrid working, allowing you to work from home, and from one of our offices by agreement, once training has been completed.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Lisa Wilson, Team Leader at [e-mail]

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.

You can find a copy of the job description here: Planning Technician SCG1314.pdf

Ref: 1401/TC