Technical Support Officer (Planning)

Elmbridge; Esher; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent pension

Discounts with local businesses

Free employee parking at the Civic

Birthday off

Time off between Christmas and NewYear

Job summary

Elmbridge Borough Council in Esher is seeking a Technical Support Officer (Planning) to support the Planning Service and Business Support Team. You will validate planning applications, respond to enquiries with clear advice, and manage case administration from submission to decision.

You will assist in coordinating planning appeals and enforcement, contributing to process improvements and enhancements to digital tools and service delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience in validating planning applications.
• Responding to enquiries from applicants, agents and the public with clear, professional advice.
• Managing planning case administration from submission through to decision.
• Supporting coordination of planning appeals and enforcement cases.
• Contributing to improvements in planning processes and digital tools to enhance service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Validating a wide range of planning applications.
• Responding to enquiries from applicants, agents and members of the public providing clear and professional advice.
• Managing planning case administration from submission through to decision.
• Supporting the coordination of planning appeals and enforcement cases ensuring statutory deadlines and procedural requirements are met.
• Contributing to improvements in planning processes, system and digital tools to enhance service delivery.

Skills

Planning applications

Customer enquiries

Case administration

Planning appeals coordination

Digital tools

Job description

Closing Date: 23/10/2026 at 09:00 (Elmbridge Borough Council reserves the right to close this job advert early in the event a high volume of applications are received)

Interview date: TBC

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated talented individual to fill the role of Technical Support Officer (Planning) within our dynamic Business Support Team. The Business Support Team is the engine room that supports the entire Planning Service. The team validates and registers all planning applications, processes Planning Appeals, plays a key role in the administration and monitoring of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and is responsible for leading our programme of process review, system updates as well as driving and monitoring our overall service performance. You will join a supportive team committed to continuous improvement and delivering positive outcomes for our communities.

A typical working day would look like:

• Validating a wide range of planning applications
• Responding to enquiries from applicants, agents and members of the public providing clear and professional advice
• Managing planning case administration from submission through to decision
• Supporting the coordination of planning appeals and enforcement cases ensuring statutory deadlines and procedural requirements are met
• Contributing to improvements in planning processes, system and digital tools to enhance service delivery

This is more than a job opportunity; it is your chance to play a significant role in the community and be an integral part of our borough's development journey.
Please read the Job Description and Person Specification for this role before applying. Candidates will be shortlisted for interview on the extent to which they meet the specific points within the Person Specification.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Amanda Leonard our Planning Business Support Team Leader [e-mail] or Chris Burrows our Planning and CIL Team Leader [e-mail]

About us

• Flexibility: we know you have to juggle work and life commitments and our approach to hybrid working is there to support you.
• Wellbeing: when you thrive, Elmbridge thrives, which is why we have developed a strong and varied wellbeing programme for our employees.
• Learning and development: we all know learning does not stop, it is an ongoing journey, and we will support you on that journey by creating a bespoke learning and development plan
• The package: not forgetting our excellent pension, discounts with various local businesses, and free employee parking at the Civic Centre. Plus, your birthday off and time off between Christmas and New Year, no annual leave required.