Principal Planning Officer

Purpose of the Role

To ensure that development proposals are in line with legislation, regulations, national and local planning and policies, so that the organization can deliver on its objectives across Development Management, Plan Making and Planning Enforcement disciplines. The role-holder, as a technical leader, will provide specialist advice and information to the organization on all issues relating to Plan Making and the production of a sound Development Plan. The role holder will supervise more junior posts and the apprentices.

Responsibilities

• Appraise and make recommendations on complex, contentious, and controversial planning applications and cases against the Local Plan, regulations, and legislative frameworks, to ensure that applications are compliant with requirements and Bath and North East Somerset's needs.
• Provide written statements and Proofs of Evidence and represent at Examinations in Public and associated hearings as an expert witness.
• Respond to the most complex enquiries from the public, Members, applicants, and all other stakeholders to deliver timely and constructive advice and information and attend public meetings as appropriate.
• Provide specialist planning related advice and guidance to enable all customers and interested parties to submit development applications that will be aligned to the Development Plan requirements, meaning they are more likely to be approved whilst also supporting the sustainable growth of Bath and North East Somerset.
• This includes providing expert pre-application advice on major development proposals, and assessing the robustness of ensuing assessments, plus related technical studies and documentation with input from relevant internal and external consultees.
• Represent in appeals, hearings and inquiries, acting as an expert witness, to defend the decisions on applications This will include providing written statements and proofs of evidence at associated hearings.
• Present applications to the Planning Committee and occasionally act as lead officer to enable effective decision-making by the Committee and take decisions to sign-off applications in accordance with delegated authority.
• Negotiate and project manage major or complex planning and development proposals, engaging with internal and external partners to ensure that the Development Plan objectives, are achieved using section 106 agreements and planning conditions as necessary.
• Conduct initial enquiries into alleged breaches of planning control, and provide assistance to planning enforcement, to ensure compliance with the planning decisions and policies.
• Provide guidance, advice, and support to Planning Officers to ensure an appropriate and effective planning service is delivered to the required standard.
• Contribute to the preparation of Article 4 Directions, Local Development Orders feeding back on what works and what doesn't to ensure that planning policies can be applied successfully and improved.
• Provide expert professional advice and formulate planning policy on complex and significant issues. Coordinate the preparation, progression and review of statutory development plan and related policy documents and their sustainability appraisals to ensure the provision of an approved, sound and up to date planning policy framework.
• Direct and conduct public consultations in line with policies to ensure that all parties affected by potential development can provide comment and appropriate input. This could also include conducting events to promote policies and proposals and ensure the effective public participation in, and understanding of, those plans

Knowledge / Skills / Experience required

• Degree in Planning or related subject or equivalent experience.
• Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute or equivalent.
• Substantial experience of managing complex cases in planning and development management.
• Substantial experience in acting as an expert witness and senior planning expert in controversial cases or complex issues at Development Plan Examinations.
• Experience of presenting complex and contentious planning applications to the Planning Committee.
• Thorough knowledge of planning policy activity and enforcement policies and processes.
• Thorough knowledge of the Development Plan for Bath and North East Somerset.
• Thorough knowledge of planning legislation such as Town and Country Planning Act, and governmental planning framework.
• Ability to translate complex information, provide professional advice and guidance, and to present information to a range of stakeholders in a clear manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with applicants, objectors, interested parties and consultees, and negotiate to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ability to manage a case load of complex planning applications and appeals.

If interested, please submit CV and call Varsha on (phone number removed) between 9am to 5pm (Mon to Fri)