Principal Planning Officer (Planning)

Matchtech; St Albans; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

St Albans Local Authority is seeking a Principal Planning Officer to lead strategic and major development proposals within its Highways and Development Management function on a contract basis. The role focuses on residential, commercial and outline planning applications, with responsibilities for negotiations, site visits and committee presentations.

The post requires extensive experience in strategic development management, strong knowledge of planning processes, and excellent report-writing

Qualifications

• Significant experience in strategic or major development management within a local authority or similar planning environment.
• Strong knowledge of planning application and pre-application process.
• Experience negotiating and managing Planning Performance Agreements.
• Sound understanding of transport planning, highways matters and development access requirements.
• Ability to assess complex proposals ranging from major residential schemes to large strategic allocations.
• Excellent report-writing, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Confidence working with minimal supervision while managing competing priorities.
• Relevant planning qualification or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate Planning Performance Agreements with applicants and their professional teams
• Lead pre-application discussions, arranging meetings, attending site visits and liaising with consultees
• Provide clear written feedback and professional planning advice to applicants
• Process major and strategic planning applications through to determination
• Assess transport planning, highways and access implications associated with proposed developments
• Coordinate input from internal teams, external consultees and specialist advisers
• Prepare comprehensive officer reports with clear recommendations
• Present applications and recommendations to planning committee

Skills

Negotiation

Report-writing

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Transport planning knowledge

Education

Planning qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Our client, a local authority in St Albans, is seeking a Principal Planning Officer to join its Highways and Development Management function on a contract basis. The role will focus on strategic and major-scale development proposals, including residential schemes, commercial applications, outline planning applications and reserved matters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Negotiate Planning Performance Agreements with applicants and their professional teams
• Lead pre-application discussions, arranging meetings, attending site visits and liaising with consultees
• Provide clear written feedback and professional planning advice to applicants
• Process major and strategic planning applications through to determination
• Assess transport planning, highways and access implications associated with proposed developments
• Coordinate input from internal teams, external consultees and specialist advisers
• Prepare comprehensive officer reports with clear recommendations
• Present applications and recommendations to planning committee

Job Requirements:

• Significant experience in strategic or major development management within a local authority or similar planning environment
• Strong knowledge of the planning application and pre-application process
• Experience negotiating and managing Planning Performance AgreementsSound understanding of transport planning, highways matters and development access requirements
• Ability to assess complex proposals ranging from major residential schemes to large strategic allocations
• Excellent report-writing, negotiation and presentation skills
• Confidence working with minimal supervision while managing competing priorities
• Relevant planning qualification or equivalent professional experience

Role Benefits:

• Opportunity to work on high-profile strategic development projects
• Exposure to complex planning, highways and transport matters
• Collaborative support from experienced planning and design professionals
• Opportunity to influence high-quality development across St Albans