Principal Planner

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Planner to lead a team in delivering vital planning services. This role involves managing a team, assessing planning applications, and contributing to urban design and environmental assessments. With a focus on residential development and infrastructure, you will play a key role in shaping the community and ensuring compliance with planning laws. The organization offers a supportive environment with flexible working arrangements and a commitment to staff development. If you are passionate about making a difference in people's lives through effective planning, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Generous leave entitlement

Local government pension scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Tailored learning and development

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Discounts on various products and services

Qualifications

• Extensive post-qualification experience in planning and residential development.
• Strong knowledge of planning system and law.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of planners and assess planning applications.
• Contribute to planning enforcement and infrastructure delivery.

Skills

Planning Law

Team Leadership

Urban Design

Environmental Impact Assessments

Residential Development

Education

Recognized Planning Qualification

Membership of RTPI

Job description

Principal Planner

£52,805 - £56,985 per annum + essential car user allowance of £963 per annum

Full Time, 37 hours per week / Permanent

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We currently have an opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Development Management team as a Principal Planner, leading a team of planners in a defined geographical area.

Your role

This lead planning role is responsible for the management of a team of planning professionals to support the delivery of the development management service within East Suffolk, as well as manage and assess planning applications and pre-application submissions in accordance with planning law, national and local policy and guidance. You will be a lead contributor in the Planning Referral/Scheme of Delegation and Committee process, forging strong working relations with elected members and key officers across the organisation.

In addition, you will contribute to the wider Development Management Team, supporting colleagues with planning enforcement matters and to deliver planning decisions of all scales whilst also assisting the Infrastructure Team to support infrastructure delivery through CIL, s106 and with external bodies. You will have a strong eye for urban design and good environmental awareness in decision making including experience of Environmental Impact Assessments.

What you will need:

With a recognised and appropriate planning qualification, and membership of the RTPI (or immediately working towards submission of your APC), you will have extensive post qualification experience in planning, specifically in the design and delivery of residential development and infrastructure delivery, giving sound knowledge of the planning system and planning law, as well as experience of leading on major planning applications.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you do not meet all the essential requirements, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Why work for us?

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access.

Here are some of the main benefits:

• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)
• Local government pension scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes.
• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services.

Please see our benefits brochure for further information.

The majority of our teams are working in an agile way, with a mixture of home and office working, depending on individual preferences and service requirements. If you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements if you were successful, please contact the recruiting manager listed below.

Please read the job description and person specification before applying for this job.

To find out more

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Joe Blackmore, Planning Manager (Development Management) by emailing: [e-mail]

How to apply:

To apply, please complete the online application and upload your supporting statement on our website by clicking on the 'apply button'

Closing date: 1pm, 30 April 2025.

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.

How to apply

1. Step 1 -Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (docx)
2. Step 2 -Complete the Supporting Statement template (docx). Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification. Please use the template provided (other formats will not be accepted).
3. Step 3 -Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.