Senior Planning Officer (Local Plan)

Adecco; Yate; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council is seeking a Senior Planning Officer to join their Strategic Planning Policy and Specialist Advice Team. This temporary role involves balancing development needs with environmental concerns while preparing for the Local Plan examination. Applicants should have a degree in a related subject and significant experience in planning and policy development.

Qualifications

• Considerable relevant experience in planning practice.
• Clear understanding of planning policy and legislation.
• Experience preparing for Local Plan examinations.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of the council's planning policy framework.
• Prepare examination evidence and main modifications.
• Lead commissioning and project management of external consultants.

Skills

Planning practice experience

Housing policy knowledge

Project management

Education

Degree in Town Planning or related field

Job description

Adecco are recruiting for a Senior Planning Officer to join South Gloucestershire Council.

Key points:

• Location: Yate
• Pay rate: 24.22 PAYE / 32.03 Umbrella
• Contract: Temporary
  Start Date: 21st September 2025, End Date: 30th Jan 2026
• Hours: 18.5 hours per week to be worked between Monday - Friday (this is flexible, however a Tuesday must be a working day)
• Hybrid: Yes - a minimum of 1 day per week in the office (Tuesday)
• Please note this order is for Local Plan not Development Management
• You will be required to drive occasionally for site visits, and therefore a valid drivers license is essential

The Strategic Planning Policy and Specialist Advice Team is responsible for preparing the new Local Plan, plan monitoring and providing planning policy advice.

Joining as a Senior Planning Officer, you will support the team and help to deliver the council's statutory planning policy framework functions. As we submit the plan and approach the Local Plan examination stage, you will be part of the team as we prepare for and undertake the examination.

With preparing our new Local Plan, we need to balance the challenges of protecting and conserving South Gloucestershire's built and natural environment with providing the homes, jobs and infrastructure our district needs. We are progressing with preparing our new Local Plan and expect to submit this for examination in September.

What you will be doing:

• You will prepare examination evidence matter statements which present the council's position and approach to policies and allocations in the Submission Local Plan.
• It will be key for you to prepare main modifications and statements of common ground, using your experience of liaising with and agreement of matters with adjoining authorities and government agencies.
• Regularly, you will review representations and examination evidence submitted by participants and formulate and prepare officer responses.
• Using your knowledge and experience, you will be part of the officer team providing expert witness roles at the Local Plan examination in public hearing sessions.
• It will be your responsibility to lead the commissioning and project management of external consultants and partners, producing technical evidence and supporting studies. As required, you will present at internal senior officer and politcal briefings, formal council meetings and external meetings relation to work area.

What we need from you:

• We require you to be educated to degree level or equivalent in a related subject e.g. town planning.
• It is essential that you have considerable relevant experience in planning practice, in particular relation to housing policy/supply, evidence and options for site allocations and key strategic/legacy sites would be desirable.
• You need to have experience of preparing for and giving evidence at Local Plan and/or Development Plan Documents examinations.
• You will be eligible or be able to work towards membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
• You must have a clear understanding of planning policy and legislation as it relates to local plan making.

If you have the skills and experience for this position, please apply. If your CV is shortlisted, an Adecco Consultant will be in touch to discuss the role with you in more detail and look at submitting your application to the Council.

Adecco acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

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