Senior Planner - Development Management

Norwich Living Wage City Action Group; Norwich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Norwich City Council seeks a Senior Planner (Development Management) to lead a high-quality planning service in Norwich. You will handle a broad mix of development proposals, regeneration schemes, policy work and cross-authority initiatives shaping the city’s future.

The role requires extensive experience in development management, excellent communication, and the ability to mentor junior staff while presenting at committees and inquiries.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of planning law, development management processes, spatial planning and urban regeneration.
• Significant experience processing planning applications, writing reports, negotiating obligations, and providing planning advice.
• Experience working with listed buildings and conservation issues.
• Familiarity with Environmental Impact Assessment and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the full range of statutory planning and development management functions.
• Provide high-quality planning advice to applicants, agents, public, councillors and stakeholders.
• Process and determine planning applications, negotiate amendments and prepare robust reports.
• Contribute to planning enforcement and assess unauthorised development.
• Support preparation, monitoring, and review of spatial planning policies and Local Development Framework.
• Present cases at Planning Applications Committee and represent the Council at appeals, hearings, and inquiries.
• Assist in supervision, mentoring and training of Planners and deputise for the Team Leader.
• Work with partner authorities and support corporate priorities.
• Promote a culture of innovation, customer service and continuous improvement.

Skills

Communication

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Mentoring

Time management

Education

Postgraduate degree in Planning

MRTPI membership or commitment

Tools

GIS

Job description

Shape the Future of Norwich

Norwich City Council is looking for a highly motivated Senior Planner (Development Management) to play a leading role in delivering a high¿quality, customer¿focused planning service in one of the UK’s most historic and forward¿thinking cities.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced planning professional seeking to take the next step in their career—working on a wide variety of development proposals, regeneration projects, policy work, and cross¿authority initiatives that directly shape the future of Norwich.

As a Senior Planner (Development Management), you will:

• Work independently at a senior professional level to deliver the full range of statutory planning and development management functions.
• Provide high¿quality planning advice to applicants, agents, the public, councillors, and other stakeholders.
• Process and determine planning applications, negotiate amendments, secure planning obligations, and prepare robust reports and recommendations.
• Contribute to planning enforcement by assessing unauthorised development and advising on appropriate actions.
• Support preparation, monitoring, and review of spatial planning policies, including work linked to the Local Development Framework.
• Present cases at Planning Applications Committee and represent the Council at appeals, hearings, and public inquiries.
• Help develop and improve service performance, systems, and workflow management.
• Assist in the informal supervision, mentoring, and training of Planners and deputise for the Development Management Team Leader when required.
• Work collaboratively across services, with partner authorities (including the Greater Norwich Growth Board), and support wider corporate priorities.
• Promote a culture of innovation, customer service, and continuous improvement.

About You

You will be an experienced and confident planning professional who can operate effectively at a senior level. You will bring:

Essential Knowledge & Experience

• Strong understanding of planning law, development management processes, spatial planning, sustainable development, and urban regeneration.
• Significant experience processing planning applications, writing reports, preparing appeal statements, negotiating planning obligations, and providing planning advice.
• Experience working with listed buildings and conservation issues.
• Familiarity with Environmental Impact Assessment, stakeholder engagement, and service performance requirements.

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present at committees and public meetings.
• Strong analytical abilities and confidence interpreting plans, drawings, and technical data.
• Ability to negotiate effectively, make sound planning judgments, and manage your own workload to meet deadlines.
• Commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.
• Ability to mentor colleagues and contribute positively to team development.
• Competence using standard office and specialist planning systems, including GIS.

Qualifications

• A postgraduate degree or diploma in Planning.
• Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI), or the ability and commitment to achieve it.