Senior Planning Officer

South Gloucestershire Council; Yate; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council in Yate is seeking a Senior Planning Officer to lead a varied caseload of major and complex planning applications, shaping the district’s growth with sustainable development.

You will present proposals to planning committees, negotiate Section 106 agreements, and mentor junior colleagues while contributing to policy-based decisions and public inquiries. The role is hybrid, combining office work in Yate with home-based activity.

Qualifications

• Degree in town and country planning and RTPI membership or commitment.
• Experience of determining complex and potentially controversial planning applications.
• Comprehensive knowledge of planning legislation and the wider policy framework.
• Strong negotiating skills with experience securing amendments via Section 106.
• Excellent communication and ability to engage with customers in formal/public environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage a varied caseload of planning applications and pre-application enquiries, focusing on major developments and complex minor applications.
• Present planning applications and recommendations to the development control committee, the spatial planning committee and the sites inspection sub-committee.
• Negotiate Section 106 agreements and prepare responses to planning appeals, including written statements and submissions for public inquiries.
• Mentor junior colleagues by sharing knowledge, experience and technical expertise.
• Present matters at senior officer briefings, member briefings and formal council meetings, providing professional advice on complex planning issues.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Policy interpretation

RTPI membership or commitment

Driving licence

Education

Degree in town and country planning

Job description

How you'll make a difference

The Development Management team determines approximately 2,500 planning applications each year, playing a key role in shaping the future of South Gloucestershire. As a Senior Planning Officer, you will work on some of the most complex and challenging planning proposals received by the council, helping to deliver high-quality development and sustainable growth across the district. The decisions you make will have a lasting impact on the built and natural environment, supporting thriving communities and creating places that can be enjoyed by residents, businesses and visitors for generations to come.

What you will be doing

• It will be your responsibility to manage a varied caseload of planning applications and pre-application enquiries, with a particular focus on major developments and more complex minor applications submitted by the Development Management team.
• You will present planning applications and recommendations to the development control committee, the spatial planning committee and the sites inspection sub-committee.
• A key aspect of your role will be negotiating Section 106 agreements and preparing responses to planning appeals, including written statements, hearing submissions and evidence for public inquiries where required.
• Acting as a mentor, you will support the development of junior colleagues by sharing your knowledge, experience and technical expertise.
• You will present matters at senior officer briefings, member briefings and formal council meetings, providing professional advice on complex planning issues.

What we need from you

• You must hold a degree relative to town and country planning and be a full member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), or be able to demonstrate a commitment to working towards a full membership.
• It is essential that you have experience of determining complex and potentially controversial planning applications, alongside the ability to interpret and apply planning policy in a consistent and balanced manner.
• You will have a comprehensive knowledge of planning legislation, regulations and the wider policy framework relating to development management.
• We are looking for someone with strong negotiating skills, with experience of securing amendments to development proposals and achieving positive outcomes through Section 106 agreements.
• Excellent communication skills are essential, alongside the confidence to represent the council and engage effectively with all customers, in both formal and public environments.

What you need to know

• You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle (pool cars are available).
• If you use your own vehicle for council work, business insurance will need to be added to your insurance policy.
• This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our office in Yate and working from home. You will be expected to attend the office regularly, including for team meetings.

Interviews will be held on 11th November 2026.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work.
• We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives, and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance.
• What’s special here is the strength of the team ethos, the support and the training.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference be part of it!