Principal Planner

£52,805 - £56,985 per annum

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work, delivering essential local services and making a real difference to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We currently have an opportunity to join East Suffolk Council's Development Management team as a Principal Planner for our South Area Team covering communities including Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Martlesham and Kesgrave along with villages and rural areas.

The role

This lead planning role will manage a team of planning professionals to support the delivery of the development management service within East Suffolk, as well as manage and assess planning applications and pre-application submissions in accordance with planning law, national and local policy and guidance. You will be a be a lead contributor in the Planning Referral and Committee process, forging strong working relations with elected members. 

In addition, you will contribute to the wider Development Management Team, supporting colleagues with planning enforcement matters and to deliver planning decisions of all scales whilst also assisting Infrastructure Team to support infrastructure delivery through CIL, s106 and with external bodies. You will have a strong eye for urban design and good environmental awareness in decision making including experience of Environmental Impact Assessments.

What you will need

With a recognised and appropriate planning qualification, and membership of the RTPI (or immediately working towards submission of your APC), you will have extensive post qualification experience in planning, specifically in the design and delivery of residential development and infrastructure delivery, giving sound knowledge of the planning system and planning law, as well as experience of leading on major planning applications.

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all of the essential requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Why work for us?

East Suffolk Council is a great place to work and there are lots of benefits our employees can access. To find out more about why we are so proud of East Suffolk Council, take a look at our video and hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work (YouTube).

In addition to the rural and urban diversity of East Suffolk itself, the district is close to the large urban centres of both Norwich and Ipswich, with rail services providing access to the council’s offices by train. We might be 'on the edge' but we can be accessed easily from a wide area (jpg) and offer flexible and remote working in a dynamic team.

Here are some of the main benefits:

• Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 25 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays) 
• Local government pension scheme 
• Flexible working arrangements 
• Learning and development tailored to your role 
• A wide variety of staff support networks including access to health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes. 
• Discounts on mobile phones, computers, holiday and travel, fashion and clothing, health and beauty and many other products and services. 

Find more information about what we offer in our benefits brochure (pdf). 

To find out more

For an informal discussion regarding this post, please contact Ben Woolnough, Head of Planning, Building Control and Coastal Management on (01502) 523200, or by emailing Ben.Woolnough@eastsuffolk.gov.uk

How to apply:

Complete the online application and upload your supporting statement on our website by clicking on the 'apply button'

Closing date: 1pm, 7 February 2025.

Interview date: week commencing 17 February 2025

East Suffolk Council is an exciting place to work and a great place to make a real difference to people’s lives, delivering vital services to a quarter of a million people across East Suffolk.

We hugely value our staff and know that in order for us to remain successful, it is essential for us to recognise talented employees, developing and retaining them within the organisation. We are therefore committed to investing in our staff and providing first-class support to ensure a positive culture and rewarding careers.