Senior Planner

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council; Port Talbot; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension contribution 15.3%

25 days + 8 bank holidays

Gym discount

Cycle to work

Tusker salary sacrifice car

Smart Spend discounts

Job summary

Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is seeking a Senior Planner in Development Management. The post is based at The Quays, Brunel Way, Briton Ferry, Neath SA11 2GG, with hybrid working and a minimum of 2 days per week in the office.

The role offers opportunities to lead complex planning work, including DNS, Freeports and green sustainable initiatives. You will manage a personal caseload of controversial applications, negotiate planning obligations and represent the Council at appeals, with

Qualifications

• Development Management and Appeals experience.
• Expertise in assessing or preparing applications for planning permission, including larger and more complex development schemes.
• Ability to understand the relationship between development management, enforcement, planning policy and other material considerations.
• Ability to manage complex work programmes, meet deadlines and work both independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Handle a personal caseload of controversial, complex and/or strategically important planning and related applications or enforcement cases, including consultations, negotiations and reports.
• Negotiate delivery of planning obligations in accordance with National and Local policies.
• Represent the Council in respect of controversial, complex and/or strategically important planning and enforcement appeals, including preparation of appeal statements and giving evidence.
• Work with the Team Leader to provide day-to-day guidance and supervision to less experienced officers/assistants.
• Be part of the Panel of Officers reviewing Officer recommendations on applications before the Delegated Panel.
• Participate in improving the Development Management Service and deputise for the Team Leader when required.

Skills

Development Management

Appeals experience

Planning permission apps

Policy & material considerations

Team guidance

Education

RTPI planning qualification

Job description

Senior Planner

Job description

Job Title: Senior Planner – Development Management

Location of post: The Quays, Brunel Way, Briton Ferry, Neath SA11 2GG

Your workstyle will be an agile hybrid worker in this role which gives you the flexibility to work from home and from a variety of Council workplaces.

(This role operates on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office.)

About the role:

We are looking for a Senior Planner to join our Development Management team and gain significant experience of working within a progressive authority within our expanding team.

These are exciting times in Neath Port Talbot. There is lots to do with innovative and ground-breaking initiatives to be part of. Over the next few years we will be dealing with a huge range of applications including Development of National Significance, those related to the delivery of Freeports, off shore wind and our transition to a green sustainable industrial future in Port Talbot.

We deal with a wide variety of residential, commercial, leisure, energy and other exciting developments, offering you a great opportunity to gain or build upon your experience or knowledge which we believe is unique in the region.

If you are highly motivated and already very experienced in delivering high quality development quickly and wish to be part of our expanding team, where you can shape services that really deliver for residents and customers, we want to hear from you.

The main duties of the post:

• Responsibility for a personal caseload of controversial, complex and/or strategically important planning and related applications or enforcement cases including consultations, negotiation with applicants and stakeholders, site appraisals and the preparation of complex reports and recommendations.
• To negotiate the delivery of planning obligations in accordance with National and Local policies as defined in the Local Development Plan and Supplementary Planning Guidance.
• Responsibility for processing and representing the Council in respect of controversial, complex and/or strategically important planning and enforcement appeals, including the preparation of appeal statements, attendance at site visits and giving evidence at hearings and public inquiries.
• To work with the Team Leader to provide day-to-day guidance and supervision to less experienced officers / assistants to assist them with their duties.
• To be part of the Panel of Officers reviewing Officer recommendations on those applications / matters brought before the Delegated Panel.
• To participate in the work of improving the Development Management Service and to deputise for the appropriate Team Leader as may be required.

About you:

Do you have:

• Development Management and Appeals experience.
• Expertise / experience in assessing or preparing applications for planning permission, including applications for larger and more complex development schemes.
• Can demonstrate an excellent understanding of the relationship between development management, enforcement, planning policy and other material considerations.
• The ability to manage complex work programmes, meet deadlines and work both independently and collaboratively

You will hold:

• A planning qualification to RTPI standard, or equivalent Development Management experience

About us:

We believe in rewarding and recognising our colleagues’ efforts and achievements. We also believe that there’s life at work and life outside of work. We want everyone to be healthy and happy and have the financial resources and support they need.

Choose to work for us and you’ll be rewarded with a range of attractive benefits and support to help you live your best life.

• Hybrid working (in some roles) and flexible working schemes to improve your work life balance
• Benefit from a competitive employee package with a remarkable 15.3% employer pension contribution
• Enjoy a holiday entitlement of 25 days, increasing to 32 days after 5 years’ service (not forgetting the additional 8 bank holidays too)
• Access discounted gym membership with Celtic Leisure
• Utilise the cycle to work scheme with up to 40% off bikes and cycling equipment
• Purchase a new car through Tusker salary sacrifice scheme
• Enjoy exclusive discounts at local and national retailers with the Smart Spend app through our staff wellbeing group.

If you would like to start a rewarding career with a company that values and invests in its employees and you have the necessary experience and qualifications, this could be your dream job and we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion,