Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

The Planner Jobs Redactive Publishing Limited; Banbury; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days leave

LGPS Pension Scheme

EV salary sacrifice

Cycle to work scheme

Annual Flu Vaccination voucher

Eye test reimbursement

Incremental pay award

Town centre office near station

Job summary

Cherwell District Council is seeking a bright, enthusiastic Planning Enforcement Officer to undertake a broad range of investigations and lead on complex, sensitive cases. You will investigate breaches, assess expediency, negotiate resolutions, prepare reports, and take enforcement action when required.

You will manage a varied caseload and support the team leader while mentoring colleagues to ensure a high-quality enforcement service.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills are essential.
• Self-starter who can manage complex investigations and deliver high-quality enforcement work.
• Ability to mentor colleagues and share best practices within the team.

Responsibilities

• Investigate alleged breaches of planning control and assess expediency.
• Negotiate resolutions where appropriate and prepare reports/recommendations for enforcement action.
• Manage a varied caseload including major developments, unauthorised work and listed buildings.
• Represent the Council at hearings, inquiries and court proceedings as required.
• Support the Planning Enforcement Team Leader and mentor colleagues to deliver a high-quality service.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Problem solving

Mentoring

Job description

The Job:

With innovative and large-scale housing developments such as the country’s largest self-build community at Graven Hill, the exemplar zero‑carbon developmentat Northwest Bicester, and the redevelopment of a former Cold War airbase, Cherwell is committed to doing things differently.

We are an ambitious, growth-focused organisation with a commitment to healthy place‑shaping. Cherwell is growing. We have lots of large and exciting projects and through our project team approach, officers work together on the diverse and interesting developments coming forward, supporting each other.

Cherwell has attractive countryside lying at the northern edge of the Cotswolds. Its ironstone and limestone villages, many listed buildings and conservation areas ensure a wide variety of case work.

The Person:

Our busy Planning Enforcement Team is seeking a bright, enthusiastic and dynamic individual to undertake a wide range of planning enforcement investigations and lead on complex and sensitive cases.

You will be expected to investigate alleged breaches of planning control, assess expediency, negotiate resolutions where appropriate, prepare reports and recommendations, and take forward formal enforcement action when required. You will manage a varied caseload including major developments, unauthorised operational development, breaches of planning conditions, listed buildings, protected trees and enforcement appeals.

You will also support the Principal Planning Enforcement Officer and Planning Enforcement Team Leader by mentoring colleagues, sharing good practice and helping to ensure the delivery of a high-quality, efficient and customer‑focused planning enforcement service.

Working within a delivery‑focused but friendly team, you will need to be a self‑starter with excellent communication, negotiation and problem‑solving skills, capable of managing complex investigations and representing the Council at hearings, inquiries and court proceedings where required.

Delivering high‑quality places requires effective planning enforcement. If you are an enthusiastic, skilled and ambitious planning professional who is passionate about protecting the integrity of the planning system and securing positive outcomes for local communities, you could be exactly what we’re looking for.

The Benefits:

The Council is an equal opportunities employer. You’ll be part of a progressive, values‑led council that embraces innovation and collaboration. In return, Cherwell offer a competitive package and a supportive culture that invests in your professional growth and wellbeing, including:

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (plus bank holidays)
• Opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (Including generous Employer Contribution and the ability to transfer your private pension into the scheme)
• EV Salary sacrifice scheme
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Annual Flu Vaccination voucher
• £25 eye test reimbursement every two years
• Incremental pay award (awarded annually in April after one years’ service)
• Town centre office close to the station, canal and all amenities

Closing date: Sunday 18 October 2026

Interview date: TBC

For more information please contact Sean Tilbury – Planning Enforcement Team Leader on [e-mail] or 01295 221503.

Cherwell District Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.