Principal Planning Enforcement Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Cherwell District; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

LGPS pension

EV salary sacrifice

Cycle to work

Flu voucher

Eye test reimbursement

Incremental pay

Town centre offices

Job summary

Cherwell District Council is seeking an experienced Planning Enforcement Team Leader to head the council's most complex investigations. You will lead high-profile cases, assess expediency, negotiate resolutions, prepare reports, and take enforcement action when required.

You will mentor officers, ensure consistency in decision making, and represent the council at hearings, inquiries, and planning committees. A proactive, collaborative approach is essential for this hands-on role.

Qualifications

• Experience leading planning enforcement investigations.
• Ability to manage highly complex casework and multi-stakeholder matters.
• Strong communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Investigate alleged breaches of planning control and assess expediency.
• Manage a varied caseload including major developments and enforcement appeals.
• Prepare reports and recommendations; take forward formal enforcement action where required.
• Provide technical leadership and mentor officers within the Planning Enforcement Team; deputise for Team Leader when needed.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Communication

Mentoring

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Job description

The Job:

With innovative and large-scale housing developments such as the country’s largest self-build community at Graven Hill, the exemplar zero-carbon developmentat Northwest Bicester, and the redevelopment of a former Cold War airbase, Cherwell is committed to doing things differently. We are an ambitious, growth-focused organisation with a commitment to healthy place-shaping. Cherwell is growing. We have lots of large and exciting projects and through our project team approach, officers work together on the diverse and interesting developments coming forward, supporting each other. Cherwell has attractive countryside lying at the northern edge of the Cotswolds. Its ironstone and limestone villages, many listed buildings and conservation areas ensure a wide variety of case work.

The Person:

Our busy Planning Enforcement Team is seeking an experienced, highly motivated and dynamic individual to lead on the Council's most complex, high-profile and sensitive planning enforcement investigations.

You will be expected to investigate alleged breaches of planning control, assess expediency, negotiate resolutions where appropriate, prepare reports and recommendations, and take forward formal enforcement action when required. You will manage a varied caseload including major developments, unauthorised operational development, breaches of planning conditions, listed buildings, protected trees and enforcement appeals, including cases of corporate priority to the Council.

You will play a key role in supporting the Planning Enforcement Team Leader in the day-to-day management of the service, providing technical leadership, mentoring officers, quality assuring casework and helping to ensure consistency in decision making. You will also act as deputy to the Team Leader when required.

Working within a delivery-focused but friendly team, you will need to be a self-starter with excellent communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills, capable of managing highly complex investigations and representing the Council at hearings, inquiries, planning committees and court proceedings.

The Benefits:

The Council is an equal opportunities employer. You’ll be part of a progressive, values-led council that embraces innovation and collaboration. In return, Cherwell offer a competitive package and a supportive culture that invests in your professional growth and wellbeing, including:

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (plus bank holidays)
• Opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (Including generous Employer Contribution and the ability to transfer your private pension into the scheme)
• EV Salary sacrifice scheme
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Annual Flu Vaccination voucher
• £25 eye test reimbursement every two years
• Incremental pay award (awarded annually in April after one years’ service)
• Town centre office close to the station, canal and all amenities

Closing date:

Sunday 18 October 2026

Interview date:

TBC

For more information please contact Sean Tilbury – Planning Enforcement Team Leader on [e-mail] or 01295 221503.

Cherwell District Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.