Senior Planning Officer

Service Care Solutions Ltd; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; Full time

Job summary

A leading local authority in the South West is seeking a Senior Planning Officer for a temporary contract. The role involves overseeing a major strategic site, providing expert planning advice, and managing complex applications. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in a Local Authority setting and a strong understanding of planning law.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior Planning Officer or Principal Planner in a Local Authority setting.
• Strong track record of handling complex, major applications.
• Excellent understanding of planning law and policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead officer for a major strategic site, overseeing the PPA process.
• Provide expert advice on planning policy and legislation.
• Draft reports and present to planning committee.

Skills

Planning law

Negotiation

Project management

Education

RTPI accreditation

Job description

Senior Planning Officer
Local Authority in the South West (Hybrid Working)
Temporary Contract
ASAP Start
Pay rate: £65 Per hour Umbrella LTD (Inside IR35) / £53 PAYE

We’re working with a well-regarded Local Authority in the South West that is seeking a Senior Planning Officer to lead on the determination and delivery of one of the council’s key strategic allocation sites under a Planning Performance Agreement. This will involve working closely with an existing planning officer to drive progress on a high-profile application from inception to decision.
The role:

• Lead officer for a major strategic site, overseeing the PPA process
• Liaise closely with applicants, consultants, and internal teams to manage timescales and negotiate high-quality outcomes
• Provide expert advice on planning policy and legislation
• Draft reports and present to planning committee where required
• Work collaboratively with the Development Management team to support wider service delivery
• Attend site inspections, meetings, and provide support in appeals and hearings if necessary

Requirements:

• Proven experience as a Senior Planning Officer or Principal Planner in a Local Authority setting
• Strong track record of handling complex, major applications from pre-app through to decision
• Excellent understanding of planning law and policy
• Comfortable working independently and making sound planning judgments
• RTPI accredited or working towards chartership preferred
• Must be a car user with a full driving licence

If this opportunity sounds of interest or if you're looking for your next role in planning – even if this one isn’t quite right – feel free to reach out to discuss other live vacancies we may have.
Contact James Glover on 01772 208967
or email [e-mail].