Senior Planning Officer

The Planner; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday leave

Pension

Family policies

Employee benefits programme

Salary sacrifice car scheme

Blue Light Card

Job summary

Milton Keynes City Council is seeking an experienced Senior Planning Officer to shape the future development of Milton Keynes and deliver a high-quality planning service. You will manage a varied caseload of minor and major planning applications, pre-application enquiries, appeals, and present reports at Planning Committee, with opportunities for home-based work after assessment.

Interviews are on 19 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in planning; strong knowledge of town planning legislation.
• Working towards RTPI Chartered Membership preferred; development management experience.
• Ability to manage a complex caseload including major schemes and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Assess minor and major planning applications and pre-application enquiries, applying legislation and policy.
• Provide clear planning advice to councillors, colleagues, developers, residents and partners.
• Manage planning appeals; prepare statements and represent the council at hearings.
• Analyse, negotiate and manage complex proposals, including Environmental Impact Assessments and Section 106 contributions.
• Prepare and present reports and recommendations at Planning Committee or Panel meetings.
• Support colleagues by reviewing reports and contributing to service improvement projects.

Skills

Chartered RTPI membership

Development management experience

Caseload management

Communication skills

Education

Degree in planning or related subject

Job description

Job Introduction

We're recruiting an experienced Senior Planning Officer to help shape the future development of Milton Keynes and deliver a high-quality planning service for our growing city.

You’ll take ownership of a varied caseload of both minor and major planning applications, as well as pre-application enquiries, giving you the chance to work on a broad range of development proposals. You’ll use your expertise to assess applications, negotiate on complex and significant developments and provide clear, professional advice to councillors, colleagues, developers, residents and local communities.

You’ll also manage planning appeals, including representing the Council at hearings, present reports at Planning Committee and support colleagues across the service. If you have strong development management experience and want a rewarding role where your professional judgement can make a real difference, this is the role for you.

This role may be suitable for home working, following an assessment. Home-based roles require a minimum of one day per week working from the office or site

Interviews for this role will be held on 19th November 2026

At Milton Keynes City Council, we aim to make a difference every day. We're dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We act as one council, and we work hard to create cleaner, safer and healthier communities while tackling inequalities and supporting people to thrive.

We take pride in our supportive work culture and try to go that extra mile when it comes to investing in our colleagues.

Find out more about working with us here: www.mkcounciljobs.org.uk

Main Responsibility

• Professionally assess minor and major planning applications and pre-application enquiries, applying relevant legislation, guidance and policy.
• Provide clear and reliable planning advice to councillors, colleagues, developers, residents, businesses, parish and town councils, and other partners.
• Manage planning appeals, prepare written statements and represent the council at hearings and inquiries.
• Analyse, negotiate and manage complex development proposals, including Environmental Impact Assessments, Planning Performance Agreements and Section 106 contributions.
• Prepare and present clear reports and recommendations at Planning Committee or Panel meetings.
• Support colleagues by reviewing reports, providing professional guidance and contributing to service improvement projects.

The Ideal Candidate

• A degree or equivalent qualification in planning or a related subject is essential, together with a good working knowledge of town planning legislation.
• Ideally, you’ll be working towards Chartered Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute and have direct development management experience.
• Confidently managing a complex caseload including major schemes, you’ll set priorities, meet deadlines and use your initiative.
• Clear and constructive communication will help you explain technical matters in writing, in meetings and at Planning Committee or Panel.
• Supporting others comes naturally to you, and you’ll offer practical guidance while helping colleagues produce consistent, high-quality work.
• Building respectful and collaborative relationships, you’ll work effectively with consultees, councillors, parish and town councils, applicants and local communities.

Package Description

In addition to your salary, we offer a range of benefits including:

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension - everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme - eligible employees can lease an electric or low-emission vehicle at a reduced cost through salary sacrifice, subject to National Minimum Wage and other eligibility requirements.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Why join us? Along with more on our Benefits, discover why Working at the City Council could be the right move for you here Working at the Council | Milton Keynes

Roles are either ‘site based’ or ‘home based’.

Site based roles are mainly based at the workplace, with the option to work from home for up to two days a week, depending on service needs.

Home based roles are mainly based at home, with the expectation of attending the workplace up to one day a week.

The working arrangement for each role is set by the manager, based on service requirements.

About The Organisation

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the‑clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live.

We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference.

We're very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative.

We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.

If you’d like to know more about how we do things and what matters to us, take a look at our short booklet What makes us Milton Keynes City Council.

Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have an independent and unrestricted right to work in the UK, without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.