Principal Planner – Area Team Leader

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; England; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in the United Kingdom is seeking a Principal Planner – Area Team Leader. The role offers a starting salary between £53,000 - £56,000 per annum, along with a car allowance and flexible hybrid working arrangements. You will lead a team working in diverse areas such as conservation and urban development, and need at least five years of planning experience. Additional benefits include performance-related pay, generous leave, and a relocation package if applicable.

Benefits

Car allowance

Local government pension scheme

Employee benefits scheme

Relocation package up to £8k

Qualifications

• At least five years post-qualification experience in Development Management.
• Experience managing a team and handling complex planning applications.
• Ability to provide sound advice to a diverse audience.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team covering various planning applications.
• Shape the Development Management Service.
• Handle complex caseload of planning applications and appeals.

Skills

Management experience

Team coaching and development

RTPI Membership

Planning application advice

Education

Qualified Planner with RTPI Membership

Job description

Principal Planner – Area Team Leader

Starting salary between £53,000 - £56,000 per annum, plus essential user car allowance

Full time – 37 hours with flexible working arrangements working on a hybrid basis

Based at King’s Court Council Offices, King’s Lynn

If you are looking for a new challenge for this New Year, we have an opportunity for you as a highly motivated planning professional looking to showcase your skills and experience in our Development Management Service and help shape our service and lead and develop one of our dedicated Area teams.

We are a large borough with diverse landscapes, and you will lead one of our teams covering the historic and growing market towns of King’s Lynn, Downham Market & Hunstanton, the Norfolk Coast National Landscape, the Fens and areas bordering the Brecks. We have 48 Conservation Areas with over 2000 Listed Buildings along with stunning historic estates such as Sandringham and Houghton.

This is an amazing opportunity to work in a beautiful part of the country and be involved with all types of applications relating to rural, housing, urban regeneration, conservation, and coastal planning. The Borough is experiencing significant growth with major developments proposed within the main towns of King’s Lynn, Downham Market and Hunstanton as well as our largest allocation, the West Winch Growth Area. We are also host authority to several Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, with more in the pipeline, as well as a consultee on those projects abutting our border.

As a fully qualified Planner with RTPI Membership, you will have at least five years post‑qualification experience working in Development Management and management experience including coaching and developing a team. You will also have your own small caseload of complex planning applications and associated appeals and provide sound advice and judgements for a range of audiences, including your team, Councillors, developers, and members of the public.

If this sounds like the perfect new challenge for you, we would love to hear from you. In return, we promote a good work life balance with hybrid working arrangements and a flexible working scheme. We also offer a competitive salary, performance related pay, generous annual leave including office closure between Christmas and New Year, local government pension scheme, employee benefits scheme, and RTPI subscription payment. If you are moving to the area for this role, we can also offer you a relocation package of up to £8k.

Closing date: 28 January 2026.

To apply please click on the 'apply button'