3 Month Contract With A Local Authority

The Principal Planning Officer leads planning activities within a defined area of the borough, ensuring a coordinated and effective approach to planning, development, and regeneration.

The role manages a small professional team and oversees complex planning applications, pre-application enquiries, planning appeals, and strategic development proposals. The postholder supports senior leadership by providing expert planning advice, negotiating major development agreements, and contributing to the delivery of the Council’s regeneration and planning objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on major and complex planning applications, development proposals, and planning performance agreements.
  

• Conduct negotiations with developers, applicants, and internal stakeholders.
  

• Prepare and present planning reports to senior stakeholders including councillors and planning committees.
  

• Manage the processing and validation of planning applications to ensure compliance with statutory procedures and target timelines.
  

• Provide final authorisation for development management processes, consultation arrangements, and delegated or committee reports.
  

• Contribute to the development and review of planning policy including the London Plan and local planning policy documents.
  

• Provide area-focused development management advice aligned with regeneration strategies.
  

• Input into planning frameworks and site briefs for major development sites.
  

• Lead negotiations on Section 106 planning obligations and other funding agreements related to major developments.
  

• Ensure agreements support infrastructure delivery and contribute to significant income generation for the Council.
  

• Provide professional advice to councillors, senior officers, developers, and the public on planning matters.
  

• Represent the planning service at public meetings, site visits, and community consultations.
  

• Ensure inclusive and effective community engagement in planning processes.
  

• Represent the Council at planning appeals, public inquiries, informal hearings, and court proceedings by presenting expert planning evidence.
  

• Manage and supervise a team of planners and technical staff.
  

• Allocate workloads, monitor performance, and ensure delivery against service targets.
  

• Conduct staff appraisals, support professional development, and identify training needs.
  

• Provide guidance and mentoring to junior planning officers.
  

• Scope, commission, and manage external consultants on planning projects.
  

• Manage allocated budgets and oversee delivery of planning programmes and projects.
  

• Support senior management and deputise for the Area Team Manager when required.
  

• Ensure compliance with planning legislation, council policies, and governance procedures.
  

• Promote equality, diversity, and good community relations within the planning process.
  

Requirements

• Degree in Town Planning or related discipline recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
  

• Eligible for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
  

• Strong knowledge of UK planning legislation, policy, and procedures.
  

• Understanding of current planning challenges affecting growth, regeneration, and local government in London.
  

• Knowledge of development management processes and planning appeals.
  

• Extensive experience managing planning application caseloads including major and complex developments.
  

• Experience advising councillors, senior officers, developers, and the public on planning matters.
  

• Proven experience negotiating planning obligations and legal agreements (e.g., Section 106).
  

• Experience dealing with planning appeals and representing organisations in formal hearings or inquiries.
  

• Experience supervising or mentoring junior staff and ensuring performance targets are met.
  

• Experience managing projects, programmes, or client relationships.
  

• Bi-Weekly Payments
  
• 35 working Hours Per Week
  
• RTPI Registered is Required