Planning Enforcement Officer – 5 Month Contract

• Ability to attend urgent site visits at short notice (Monday–Friday)
  

Job Description

Job Purpose

Key Responsibilities

Planning Enforcement Case Management

• Manage a caseload of approximately 70–100 planning enforcement complaints.
  
• Investigate new complaints and review the progress of existing cases.
  
• Assess alleged breaches of planning control and determine appropriate next steps.
  
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records throughout investigations.
  

Site Investigations & Assessments

• Conduct site visits and inspections to investigate planning concerns.
  
• Review planning permissions, site histories, legal documents, and drawings.
  
• Assess compliance with planning legislation and regulations.
  
• Consider matters relating to heritage assets, conservation areas, and protected trees where applicable.
  

Enforcement Action

• Gather evidence to support enforcement investigations.
  
• Draft warning letters, planning enforcement notices, and related documentation.
  
• Prepare evidence and case files for prosecution where required.
  
• Conduct interviews under caution in accordance with relevant procedures.
  

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Liaise with complainants, alleged offenders, councillors, colleagues, and external agencies.
  
• Provide clear updates on case progress and enforcement actions.
  
• Handle sensitive and potentially contentious issues professionally and diplomatically.
  

Reporting & Documentation

• Prepare clear, concise, and comprehensive reports.
  
• Draft professional correspondence and enforcement documentation.
  
• Ensure records are maintained in accordance with legal and audit requirements.
  

Prioritisation & Performance

• Prioritise cases based on risk and service priorities.
  
• Deliver timely and effective enforcement outcomes.
  
• Contribute to maintaining a high-quality planning enforcement service.
  

Working Environment

• Hybrid working arrangement with 1 day office-based and 4 days remote.
  
• Regular site visits and inspections required.
  
• Fast-paced environment managing a varied and complex caseload.
  
• Direct interaction with residents, businesses, councillors, and stakeholders.
  

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge of planning legislation and enforcement procedures.
  
• Understanding of planning application processes and planning policy.
  
• Knowledge of enforcement notices, appeals, and prosecution processes.
  
• Understanding of heritage assets, conservation issues, and protected trees.
  

Experience

• Experience working in planning enforcement or a related planning role.
  
• Experience managing planning enforcement investigations and complaints.
  
• Experience carrying out site inspections and evidence gathering.
  
• Experience writing detailed reports and professional correspondence.
  

• Experience conducting interviews under caution.
  
• Local authority planning enforcement experience.
  

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent investigative and analytical skills.
  
• Strong organisational and case management abilities.
  
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and meet deadlines.
  
• Excellent written communication and report-writing skills.
  
• Strong verbal communication and negotiation skills.
  
• Ability to interpret plans, legal documents, and planning records.
  
• Ability to work independently and make sound professional judgments.
  

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in Planning, Town Planning, Environmental Management, or a related discipline.
  

• Membership of, or working towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as RTPI.
  

Additional Information

• This is a 5-month temporary contract.
  
• Rate: £22.41 per hour (Umbrella).
  
• Hybrid working – 1 day office-based, 4 days remote.
  
• Pay is provided on a bi-weekly basis.
  
• Opportunity to work within a busy Planning Enforcement team.
  
• Immediate start available.