Principal Planning Officer – Development Management, Northallerton

Our team…

The Council’s Planning Services play a fundamental role in managing the natural and built environment, ensuring that the future development needs of the area can be accommodated to make it a better place in which to live and work.

This is an extremely exciting time to join us as we move forward as the new North Yorkshire Council, as we seek to complete the process of populating our newly created structure that looks to ensure we have appropriate capacity and expertise across the teams. The all-new Planning service is at the heart of change and development within communities across our vast and varied geography, making it one of the largest Planning Services in the country. We will tackle diverse projects from domestic through to national infrastructure – offering opportunities for staff to develop expertise and contribute to projects that shape our area. If you are ambitious about your future in Planning this is a great time to join us as we invest in building a world class planning service, whilst being community focused on a local level.

We operate a hybrid model of working, offering the opportunity for our staff to work from home, but also from a base within your ‘patch’ to enable you to be fully immersed within the community in which you will provide your skills and expertise. Bases of work include Selby, Richmond, Scarborough, Malton, Northallerton, Skipton and Harrogate.

Role summary…

You will undertake all aspects of development management, with the objective of achieving quality planning decisions in a timely manner and ensuring that decisions are implemented in accordance with the relevant conditions.

Manage a caseload of pre-application enquiries, applications for planning permission and other consenting regimes, and appeals submitted under the Town and Country Planning Acts and other related legislation.

Provision of planning and other related advice.

Attend Planning Committee meetings and other relevant internal and external groups to present reports and represent the service.

Duties and responsibilities…

1. Act as case officer on complex planning applications with often competing material considerations and some controversial applications including associated appeals work.
2. Project Manage strategic development sites in accordance with legislation, policies, and guidance.
3. Undertake site inspections, attend site meetings including formal Committee Site Visits.
4. Responsible for signing off decisions of other officers within your team.
5. Deputising for Development Manager/Team Leaders as required.
6. Negotiate community benefits from development proposals through legal agreements in line with Council policies including section 106 obligations and/or Community Infrastructure Levy payments.
7. Promote excellent customer care that meets or exceeds the expectations of stakeholders, Members, customers, and the community, including advice to Members of the Council and the general public on planning and related matters.
8. Investigate and reply to queries and complaints about the planning service made under the Council’s corporate complaints policy and Ombudsman investigations when required.
9. Keep up to date with planning regulations, policy, and legislation.

Knowledge and Experience

1. Degree, Post-Graduate or Masters in Planning or related subject.
2. Eligible for Membership of RTPI.
3. Evidence of working on major and complex cases.
4. Able to demonstrate an excellent knowledge of planning legislation and regulations.
5. Ability to lead and take ownership of tasks and accept responsibility for the results.
6. Effective customer care skills, including how to understand, deliver and manage customer expectations.
7. Ability to organise workloads and manage time work to strict deadlines.
8. Working in a large and complex corporate and political environment.

What we can offer…

The service has embraced modern work practices, enabling colleagues to work from home, other offices, and client premises. We come together as a team for development, connection, and collaboration, otherwise we work where it's most productive to do so. You will be provided with technology to enable efficient and effective work, ensuring that you are connected and well supported. You are provided with a comprehensive benefits package with an excellent employer defined pension scheme, enhanced holidays, and flexible working to help you thrive at home as well as work.

You will have the full support of the service to enable you to develop both knowledge and skills to help further progress your career.

Contact and Apply…

For more information/informal discussion please contact Martin.Grainger@northyorks.gov.uk (Head of Development management), John.Worthington@northyorks.gov.uk (Development service manager), David.Walker@northyorks.gov.uk (Development service manager).

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.