Principal Planner

Job Switch Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A planning consultancy in Greater London is seeking an experienced professional to support the Team Leader in managing workload and supervising staff. The role involves leading complex planning appeals and providing high-quality professional planning expertise for development applications. Candidates should have a postgraduate qualification in Town Planning and comprehensive knowledge of planning legislation. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to vital planning decisions impacting local communities.

Qualifications

• Eligibility for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute required.
• Experience with local government operations is beneficial.
• Proven track record in development management processes.

Responsibilities

• Support Team Leader in managing workload and supervising staff.
• Lead on complex planning appeals and manage all aspects of case work.
• Provide expertise on development applications and public consultations.

Skills

Comprehensive knowledge of planning legislation

Understanding of staff supervision

Project management skills

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Town Planning

Job description

Job Summary

To support the Team Leader in the management of the workload and supervision of the staff in the area team.

• To provide high quality, specialised development management assessment and decision making in an area team that meets the needs of Tower Hamlets multi-cultural communities, including the delivery of the councils statutory responsibilities for the determination of planning applications and under the Town and Country Planning Acts and related legislation;
• assessment of pre- application submissions, as required, under the Town and Country Planning Acts and related legislation, in accordance with the Councils established protocols.
• to lead on complex planning appeals, ensuring all statutory timescales are met and that the Councils position is defended robustly.
• To work with other senior officers and service managers to ensure a co-ordinated service delivery and to promote the services of the Directorate, building working relationships at a senior level with London Local Government, Central Government agencies, business and with the local community.
• To assist with the Team Leader with the management of the Area Team to ensure it contributes to the regeneration of the borough through the effective use of planning powers relevant to the post and partnership working with regeneration agencies within and outside of the Council.
• To be the lead case officer for complex, high profile and strategic development opportunities, managing all aspects of case work, acting under own initiative with minimum supervision, taking responsibility for ensuring that statutory, regulatory and local policy requirements are met by the Council, developers or other relevant parties.
• Providing high quality, specialist professional planning expertise and technical assessment relating to all aspects of development application and pre-application proposals, carrying a case load of more complex, politically sensitive or strategically important, major development proposals.
• Provide specialist expertise and act as lead case officer in project managing allocated proposals, applications or projects ensuring that all work is undertaken in accordance with statutory requirements, the Councils policies and procedures, and to the benefit of the residents of the Borough.
• Represent the Council as an expert witness on all issues involving development applications, pre-applications, projects and planning appeals at Examinations and Public Inquiries and in court where necessary.
• Undertake under own initiative a variety of advanced project management tasks relating to complex proposals, applications, projects and planning appeals, carrying a case load relating to development application matters.
• To participate in advising and liaising with the development industry on their responsibilities under the Localism Act to deliver pre-application consultations on major proposals.
• To work with the Team Leader to develop and evaluate best practice approaches to the use of consultant services in the assessment of proposals, applications or appeals.
• Organise, prepare and deliver effective development application and related public consultation exercises including the preparation of all materials and other documentation ensuring that all relevant Council Directorates, community organisations, amenity and minority groups, external agencies and Government Bodies are involved.

Knowledge

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of planning legislation and the associated town planning policy framework at national, strategic and local levels.
• Proven knowledge and understanding of key Development Management processes.
• Detailed knowledge of the operation of local government in London.
• Understanding of staff supervision, mentoring or management techniques.

Qualifications & Experience

• Town Planning or similar qualification at post graduate level and eligibility for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
• A proven track record as town planner dealing with a wide range in type and complexity of ...