Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

W4mp; Banbury; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

EV Salary sacrifice scheme

Cycle to work salary sacrifice

Annual Flu Vaccination voucher

Eye test reimbursement

Incremental pay award

Town centre office

Job summary

Cherwell District Council is seeking a Senior Planning Enforcement Officer to lead investigations, assess enforcement cases and work on major development projects in Banbury. You will join a proactive planning enforcement team, handling complex cases with integrity and customer focus.

The role is full-time, 37 hours per week, with agile working supported and a strong commitment to professional development; a competitive package and generous leave are provided.

Qualifications

• Investigate breaches of planning control and assess expediency.
• Lead on complex and sensitive enforcement cases.
• Manage a varied caseload including major developments and listed buildings.
• Mentor colleagues and share good practice.
• Represent the Council at hearings, inquiries and court proceedings when required.

Responsibilities

• Investigate alleged breaches of planning control.
• Assess expediency and negotiate resolutions where appropriate.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for enforcement action.
• Take forward formal enforcement action when required.
• Represent the Council at hearings, inquiries and court proceedings.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Job description

Salary £45,061.00 to £50,407.50 per annum

Basis Full time

Job profile for Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

Castle Quay, Banbury 18/10/2026

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Salary £45,061.00 to £50,407.50 per annum Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Date posted 23/09/2026 Job reference CDC000469R Attachments Senior Planning Enforcement Officer Job Description.docx Role Profile - Team Member.pdf

Job description

Planning and Development

Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

Grade H: £45,061.00 to £50,407.50 per annum

37 hours per week

Full-time, permanent, agile working is supported

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.