Principal Planning Officer

We are working with a local authority who are looking for a Principal Planning Officer to join the Development Management Service team. Responsible for a range of complex planning casework to deliver strategic outcomes for the Council, and to be accountable for negotiating on proposals to deliver high quality development in accordance with national guidance, planning law and adopted local plans/other guidance.

Location: Southwest based Local Authority 

Set-up: Remote / Hybrid – on-site 1-day per week

Rate: £55 per hour via umbrella, inside IR35

Duration: Initial 4-month contract

Hours: Full-time position

Purpose of the job

• This role involves taking the sites through pre-application advice, planning application stage and post decision stages including using Planning Performance Agreements (PPA)
• Master planning and the preparation of design codes will be integral to the role as will liaising with internal and external stakeholders including the parish/town councils, divisional members and communities. This will include liaison and presentations to the Quality Review Panel

Responsibilities include:

• Responsible for decision taking under the officer scheme of delegation for planning and other related applications
• Provide clear direction to deliver the Council’s strategic priorities and meet the Council’s financial targets, as a member of the Development Management Service Team
• Support senior colleagues at Area Planning and Strategic Planning Committees and present applications for decision
• Update and advise elected members in respect of strategic sites and associated matters including briefings and training
• Using professional knowledge analyse and evaluate complex technical information to provide professional advice to statutory consultees, other departments of the Council, developers/applicants, members and communities to ensure high quality outputs which support the delivery of the Council’s objectives
• Balance the competing demands of other council services and the viability of the development to make recommendations/determine priorities and negotiate complex S106 agreements to ensure high quality development is brought forward meeting the requirements of adopted planning policy and the delivery of infrastructure

Requirements:

• Local Government experience required for initial shortlisting, then thereafter at the client’s discretion
• Degree in Town Planning or related subject and equivalent experience. The postholder will require membership of (or be eligible to join) the RTPI
• Should have a minimum of 5 years’ experience of working at a Senior level in Development Management/Placemaking and demonstrate the ability to manage a caseload or competing workloads to deliver strategic sites and maintain performance
• Experience of defending the Council at appeal (Hearing/Inquiry)
• Ability to provide detailed advice across a range of planning issues in a development management/planning environment, including process and procedural matters
• Interpretation of relevant planning legislation and case law in respect of issues arising from pre-application enquiries, applications, appeals and planning enforcement

At Venn Group, we endeavour to respond to all applications However due to the volume of applications we receive, if you have not heard from us within 48 hours please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion