Planning Officer

Planning Officer RBKC618977

Job Summary:

Salary range: £37,575 - £41,286 per annum
Work location: London
Hours per week: 36
Contract type: Permanent
Closing date: 17th November 2024
Interview date: Week Commencing 2nd December 2024

About Us:

Your work and advice will help us to put local people at the heart of everything we do.

Kensington and Chelsea is a unique place. We have unmatched built heritage with distinctive residential neighbourhoods sitting alongside iconic retail centres like Portobello Road and the King's Road, a vibrant specialist employment market, an international medical quarter, and world class cultural attractions in the South Kensington Museum quarter. We also have many challenges facing us. We're home to the wealthy and to some of the most deprived wards in London. We are committed to delivering good growth in the Borough, with homes for all, through our opportunity areas and site allocations. We have also started our own ambitious house building programme. We are developing new ways of engaging with all our residents. They are some of the most engaged communities in London who care deeply about their environment. This all contributes to making the borough an unparalleled place to work and offers huge potential for professional development.

The Role:

We are looking for Planning Officers in Development Management, including Planning Enforcement.

As a Planning Officer, you'll inspect plans, carry out site visits and assess development proposals. With Enforcement, you will investigate possible breaches of planning control. You will provide advice to applicants and negotiating on planning applications and enforcement matters, you'll be ready to recommend the most appropriate course of action and advise on both planning matters and the scope of planning control. Keeping comprehensive notes of site visits and meetings, and drafting reports for submission to planning committees or others, you'll also have the expertise to prepare statements and other material for appeals and prosecutions. Always ready to keep relevant parties informed about current cases, and with the ability to work and advise on planning applications, you'll offer high levels of customer service.

You will also have an opportunity to help shape our planning service, through implementing changes, and will be committed to continuous improvements to service delivery.

With a strong and supportive team behind you, you will play a key part in the growth and success of the Development Management service. You will be joining a high performing, forward thinking, and ambitious planning department that is committed to providing a high quality, effective and responsive service.

We have a hybrid model of working with 3 days in the office each week.

Please refer to the Job Description for more information.

About You:

With an RTPI-recognised degree level qualification in Town Planning or its equivalent, and eligible for Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute, you'll have thorough knowledge of all relevant planning legislation, policies, and procedures. A good awareness of current issues and developments affecting planning, growth, urban regeneration, and local government in London is important. Capable of advising on all aspects of planning applications and ready to negotiate development proposals, you'll also have experience of community engagement, awareness of political sensitivities and the ability to command respect from a diverse range of people.

You will need to be responsive, motivated, proactive, and able to lead on cases. At times you will be required to present in public, at planning committees or during appeals, and you will need good customer service and presentation skills as well as a flexible approach to work.

Putting communities first and working together, with respect and integrity are our values and we want people who share these values to work with us. We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic, hardworking and have a positive can-do attitude. If this sounds like you, take your planning experience further by making your next career move into one of London's most vibrant and densely populated boroughs and help make us the best Council for our residents that is greener, safer, and fairer.

In return, you can look forward to a package that includes a competitive salary, a high-quality pension scheme, and generous annual leave plus bank holidays. We are committed to growing and developing our team and will invest time in your professional development.

Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

Application process

Please do not upload any documents, including CVs/Covering Letters or supporting statements, as these documents will not be reviewed and could result in your application not being shortlisted.

You should describe how you meet the person specification requirements for the position you are applying for in Section G of the application form.

Additional information:

The council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

We make sure all our staff are vetted to a high standard by conducting pre-employment checks to assess and assure the trustworthiness, integrity, and ability of prospective employees. This includes validating identity, right to work in the UK, qualifications (where applicable), work history (including the investigation of gaps) and referencing. They may also involve criminal record checks (UK and overseas).

We promote equality, welcome diverse applicants, and ensure inclusivity in our recruitment and selection process.

This post is covered by the Fluency Duty, as outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers.

Information about the safeguarding of children and support for families:

Information about protecting and safeguarding yourself and others from abuse and neglect:

We do not accept speculative CVs.

If you have any queries, please contact: