Principal Planning Officer Career Grade

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction 

Do you want to be involved in a varied range of contentious and high-profile planning applications that ranges from award winning developments, work contributing to our ambitious small sites programme and supporting the growth of our high streets and town centres.

Then this role is for you – join our high-performing, nationally ‘Gold Rated’ planning team.

From Lewisham Town Centre with its major shopping centre and market, Deptford’s nightlife to Blackheath's village atmosphere and the woodlands of Beckenham Place Park, Lewisham is one of London’s most diverse and rapidly evolving areas. We now have a unique opportunity for a forward-thinking town planner to use design‑led densification to help create and shape vibrant, well-designed neighbourhoods where people can truly thrive.

Our newly adopted Local Plan has a vision for the borough to 2040, and we have huge ambition for new housing growth and investment in our places.

As a planner in our area teams, you’ll responsible for processing a wide range of planning applications, providing a valuable opportunity to develop your skills and advance your career in planning. We're seeking motivated and enthusiastic candidates who are passionate about planning and ready to grow and make a difference. 

What’s the role? 

You will manage the full process for planning applications, pre-applications, and appeals. Working as part of a supportive team, you will be responsible for:

• Exercise delegated decision-making powers.
• Provide expert advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Supervise junior staff while ensuring performance standards are met.

Deputise for team leaders’ line management responsibilities as needed.

Negotiating with applicants and addressing objections on your cases.

Prepare comprehensive reports with recommendations.

Present applications to the planning committee when needed.

Prepare statements for Written Representation Appeals and lead the preparation and presentation of evidence at Public Inquiries and Hearings.

Identify and deliver service-improvement and revenue-generation projects.

What’s in it for you? 

You will gain substantial experience development management across a varied complex caseload and excellent training and development, management and project-work opportunities.

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance 
• Local Government Pension scheme 
• Flexible working and family friendly policies 
• Season ticket and bicycle loans 
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships 
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for 

You will be a town planner with relevant experience, who has an appreciation of London and national politics and have the ability to work independently, managing a range of competing demands with initiative. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as the role involves working closely with applicants, residents, consultants and colleagues across the council. 

You should bring:

• Good organisational, negotiation, written and verbal communication and IT skills
• Ability to prioritise and allocate work to meet deadlines. 
• Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and consistency in planning recommendations and advice for various customers. 
• Research and analytical skills to stay informed and continually expand your planning knowledge, whilst taking account of corporate priorities.

Experience in mentoring, supervision and support of junior officers.

Location

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office (currently Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

• The successful candidate will ideally hold a RTPI accredited undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
• Occasional weeknight working is required for this job (Planning Committees are held in the evening)

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CVs.

Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed. 

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact aaron.lau@lewisham.gov.uk

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification

Salary

£52,269 to £59,574 per annum (P04-P06)

The post is a career grade post at P04/P06 with opportunities to be promoted to higher grades via our appraisal process once the probationary period is successfully completed.

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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