Senior Planning Officer

South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils; Norwich; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils are seeking a Senior Planning Officer to join the Development Management Team. You will lead on complex planning proposals, engage with developers and stakeholders, and present reports and recommendations to the planning committee.

The role requires RTPI membership or progress toward it, a planning law background, and the ability to manage several major projects.

Qualifications

• Degree in Planning or related discipline.
• Chartered Member of RTPI or within one year of achieving membership.
• Experience in planning and development management.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects and work across disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Initiate and negotiate action with developers and stakeholders on planning proposals.
• Resolve complex/controversial planning issues and prepare reports and recommendations.
• Prepare appeal statements and act as a witness at informal hearings.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and provide information to elected members, agents, applicants and the public.
• Travel across locations as part of duties.
• Ideally experience with small-scale major applications.

Skills

Planning legislation knowledge

Development management experience

Negotiation & influencing

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Planning or related discipline

RTPI Chartered status or near membership

Job description

We are looking to appoint a Senior Planning Officer, ideally with experience of dealing with small scale major applications, to join a multi-disciplinary, motivated and friendly Development Management Team. Working for two authorities creates the opportunity to build your knowledge on a range of planning applications and to help shape and deliver against our ambitious growth agenda whilst also protecting our strong built and natural environment.

We have a lot to deliver, handling around 4,000 planning applications each year across a diverse area of urban communities, rural villages, and vibrant market towns. We are progressing significant housing and commercial developments alongside essential infrastructure, including large-scale residential schemes within Broadland’s Growth Triangle, key employment sites such as enterprise zones, and the delivery of our newly adopted Greater Norwich Local Plan.

We are therefore looking for a motivated ambitious team player to work within one of our area teams, where you will play a vital role in helping to create exceptional places to live and work for our residents.

What you’ll be doing…

• Initiate and negotiate action with developers, applicants, and other stakeholders on planning proposals (both pre-application and planning applications).
• Work with stakeholders to actively resolve complex and/or controversial issues and problems associated with your planning applications.
• Prepare written reports and recommendations to development management/planning committee, prepare appeal statements and act as a witness at informal hearings.
• Build and develop effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and provide information and advice to elected members, agents, applicants and the general public in writing, face to face and by telephone.

About You

You will hold a degree in Planning or a related discipline and be a Chartered Member of the RTPI, or within one year of achieving membership.

You will have comprehensive knowledge of planning legislation and current developments, along with proven experience in planning and development management, and the ability to address challenges in a constructive and responsive manner.

Able to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, you will work collaboratively across disciplines to achieve shared objectives. You will be a skilled negotiator and influencer, capable of preparing and presenting specialist advice on complex issues, and responding to subsequent enquiries with fairness, tact and impartiality. You will need to be able to travel independently across locations in the course of your duties.

Ideally, you will have experience of dealing with small-scale major applications.

Closing Date: Monday 28th September 2026

Interview Date: W/C 5th October 2026