Principal Planning Officer

Lancaster City Council; Lancaster; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Lancaster City Council as a Principal Planning Officer and contribute to significant development projects in a diverse district. This role offers the chance to work on initiatives like the Eden Project and the Canal Quarter, while being part of a supportive team committed to creating sustainable communities. Ideal candidates are qualified planners eager to enhance their skills within a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Discounted gym membership

Cycle to work scheme

Opportunity to purchase extra time off

Discounts on days out and retail

Qualifications

• Good working knowledge of planning legislation.
• Full current UK driving licence is essential.
• Experience in site visits is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Shape the future of the district and deliver major development projects.
• Involved in projects such as Eden Project and Canal Quarter.
• Work within an established team to promote a sustainable district.

Skills

Communication

Mentoring

Knowledge of planning legislation

Education

Qualified town planner (RTPI membership or eligible)

Job description

The Role

It is an exciting time to join Lancaster and develop your planning career in a diverse district with urban, rural and coastline communities.

As a Principal Planning Officer, you will play an important role in shaping the future of our district and helping to deliver our major development projects. This might include working on the new Eden Project adjacent to Morecambe Bay; or to deliver our emerging new vision for Lancaster’s historic Canal Quarter. You may be involved in proposals at Lancaster Castle, or for the new high-level employment hub at the Heysham Gateway.

The role would suit an experienced planner who is keen to hone their own skills in a supportive environment. You will join an established, dedicated and friendly team of planners who share our vision of:

• A Sustainable District;
• An Inclusive and Prosperous Local Economy;
• Healthy and Happy Communities; and,
• A Co-operative, Kind and Responsible Council.

We want to hear from talented candidates who are qualified town planners (RTPI membershiporthose who are eligible for/working towards joining the RTPI); who have a good working knowledge of planning legislation, and who have excellent communication and mentoring skills.

A full current UK driving licence is essential, as the post holder will occasionally be required to undertake site visits. The hours of work for this position are 37 hours per week, working Monday to Friday.

Flexible working friendly – we offer hybrid working, a generous flexi-time scheme, and opportunity to work with your team to establish working hours to enable you to maximise your work-life balance.

About You

You will identify with our organisational values of Pride, Ownership, Working Together and Ambition.

Our Benefits

Lancaster is a great place to work, as well as being part of something special you will also benefit from:

• Generous annual leave allowance
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• A range of employee benefits including discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme, the opportunity to purchase extra time off, as well as discounts on days out, activities and retail.

Lancaster City Council has unanimously declared a climate emergency and will therefore work towards reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2030. As part of this role, you will be expected to participate and work towards reducing both carbon emissions and the impacts of climate change.

We are an Investor in People, Forces Friendly employer, and an Armed Forces Covenant committed organisation. We welcome applications from defence reserves and other members of our armed forces community. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all parts of our community.

At Lancaster City Council we aim to have a diverse workforce that is representative of the district that we serve, and provide a working environment where each employee feels able to bring their whole self to work. We welcome applications from all sections of our community and provide several supportive and inclusive workplace networks and safe spaces for employees to feel connected. Our workplace wellbeing strategy drives our commitment to staff wellbeing initiatives and ensuring that our organisation is a great place to work for all.

We are a disability confident committed employer.

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive we are unable to update all applicants individually. If you do not receive a response from us within 2 weeks of the closing date then your application will have unfortunately been unsuccessful in progressing to interview.

Interview date: TBC