Principal Planning Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for a Principal Planning Officer is available within a dynamic Planning Team in the UK. You will lead on complex planning applications, mentor junior staff, and play a pivotal role in shaping policies that impact community development. The role offers significant benefits, including a competitive salary, a £5000 Golden Hello, and a flexible work environment that supports professional growth and innovation.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Generous holiday entitlement

Learning and development opportunities

RTPI professional fees paid

Golden Hello of £5000

Relocation package available

Qualifications

• Significant post-qualification experience of development management.
• Full driving license.
• Experience within a local authority or private practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead on complex and strategic planning applications.
• Mentor junior staff and manage their workload.
• Directly influence the quality of development across the district.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Degree in planning or related discipline

Chartered membership of the RTPI

Job description

Principal Planning Officer

Salary Band Band G £47,966- £52,505

Benefits:Golden Hello payment of £5000 to suitably qualified and experienced candidates (pro rata and terms and conditions apply); relocation package available; RTPI professional fees paid; learning and development opportunities; generous holiday entitlement; flexible working arrangements.

Join our ambitious Planning Team

South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils are delivering an ambitious growth agenda across Greater Norwich. From unlocking strategic housing sites to enabling employment growth and infrastructure delivery including a significant number of NSIPS, our One Planning Team is at the heart of shaping the future of our communities.

We are now recruiting to this pivotal role to help us deliver high-quality development and sustainable growth.

As a Principal Planning Officer, you’ll lead on complex and strategic planning applications, mentor junior staff, and play a key role in shaping policy implementation. You’ll be a confident negotiator, a clear communicator, and a trusted decision-maker. Your work will directly influence the quality and character of development across the district.

What you could be part of…

We have a lot to deliver, handling circa 4000 planning applications per year covering two diverse districts which include urban areas, rural areas and vibrant market towns.

We have some significant housing and commercial sites to deliver alongside enabling infrastructure including large scale residential schemes in Broadland’s Growth Triangle, key employment sites including enterprise zones, a significant number of NSIPs and renewable energy projects and a newly adopted Local plan for Greater Norwich to deliver against.

Working in a multi-disciplinary team and reporting in to the Area Manager, the Principal Planning Officer role is a key member of the team, responsible for helping to oversee the delivery of an effective development control function across a defined area of the two districts. The Principal Planning officer will be directly responsible for their own caseload of large and more complex planning applications, as well as managing the processing and determination of planning and other associated applications/appeals by other officers through direct line management.

You’ll join a forward-thinking, supportive team that values innovation and collaboration. We’re committed to professional development and offer flexible working arrangements, generous leave, and a modern office environment.

About You

You will…be qualified to degree level in planning or a related discipline, be a chartered member of the RTPI or eligible and capable of gaining chartered membership within one year, have a full driving license and significant and demonstrable post qualification experience of development management within a local authority or private practice.

Further Information

For further information about the role or our organisation, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the recruiting manager, or the PeopleTeam as follows:

Recruiting Manager:Tracy Lincoln

Email:[e-mail]

Phone Number:01508 533814

PeopleTeam:

Email:[e-mail]

Phone number:01508 533995

Closing date:Sunday 7^thSeptmeber 2025 at 11.45pm

Interview date:Week Commencing 15^thSeptember 2025

Further Information

Why Join Us?

We offer flexible working hours for most office-based roles, allowing for a healthy work-life balance. As part of our team, you will enjoy a range of employee benefits, including free onsite parking, employee discounts, a competitive holiday allowance, wellbeing initiatives, and the opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.

You will be joining a progressive and supportive organisation that is committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

To hear why our employees think that working for us is so special, please visit ourwebsite.

How to apply

If you are an external applicant, please apply via the 'apply button'

For internal applicants, please apply via the internal website found through the job portal on Connect.

The Councils reserve the right to close any and all vacancies at any time if there is judged to be a sufficient number of applications received.

South Norfolk and Broadland Councils are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and all applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate checks for the position, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.