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Director of Town Planning and Building Control
Westminster
Contract
£550 per day PAYE or £744.65 per day limited paid via Umbrella Company inside IR35
Our client is looking for an experienced Director of Town Planning and Building Control.
They are seeking an exceptional Director of Town Planning and Building Control to provide strategic leadership and drive excellence across our Planning and Building Control services. This is a high-profile leadership role, shaping Westminster’s built environment and ensuring that our City Plan delivers on its ambitions for sustainable growth, high-quality urban design, and resident-focused service delivery.
As the Council’s Chief Planning Officer, you will act as the organisation’s leading expert on planning policy, development management, planning enforcement, infrastructure planning, and building control. Your leadership will help enhance Westminster’s reputation as a world-class city while delivering sustainable and inclusive development.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership: Set the vision and future direction for Planning and Building Control services, ensuring innovation and a customer-centric approach.
City Plan Implementation: Lead the delivery of Westminster’s City Plan, ensuring planning policies align with the Council’s strategic objectives.
Regulatory and Policy Expertise: Act as the Council’s Planning expert, providing strategic advice to Councillors, senior leaders, and external partners.
High-Quality Urban Design: Promote a safe, well-planned, economically successful, and socially inclusive city, acting as a champion for sustainable development.
Operational Excellence: Oversee Development Management, Planning Enforcement, Infrastructure Planning, and Building Control, ensuring high standards and compliance with legislation.
Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong partnerships with Councillors, developers, private sector partners, and public agencies to influence Westminster’s future.
Budget and Resource Management: Lead a £2 million staffing budget, ensuring efficient and effective service delivery.
Leadership and Team Development: Inspire, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of approximately 150 employees, fostering an inclusive and accountable culture.
What We’re Looking For : CURRENTLY A DIRECTOR
Significant senior leadership experience in a large, multi-disciplinary organisation.
Expertise in town planning, urban design, and development management within an urban context.
Strong experience in stakeholder engagement, working with local and central government, landowners, and developers.
A track record of delivering service improvements, managing budgets, and ensuring excellent customer-focused planning services.
Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and inspire teams and stakeholders.
A deep understanding of local government regulations, statutory planning frameworks, and risk management.
Qualifications
A degree (or equivalent experience) in Planning or a related field.
Membership in a relevant professional body (desirable).
Why Join Us?
At Westminster, we don’t just offer jobs—we build careers. We foster a culture of learning, innovation, and leadership, ensuring every team member has the opportunity to grow.
We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. If you’re passionate about shaping the future of one of the most dynamic boroughs in the country, we’d love to hear from you.
PLEASE ONLY apply if you have the necessary skills, experience and expertise.
The first part of our recruitment process is to send your CV. Should you be short listed Colbern Limited will contact you within 5 days or we may contact you about other job opportunities. Colbern Limited along with our clients are an equal opportunities employer.
