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Principal Planner – Strategic Applications
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Principal Planner – Strategic Applications
Location: Havering
Pay Rate: Around £50 per hour PAYE holiday pay inclusive
Contract: Initial 3 months, with potential extension
Start: ASAP
Working: 90%+ remote, with occasional attendance in Romford/London Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Role Overview
We are recruiting an experienced Principal Planner to join the Strategic Applications Team within the Planning and Public Protection Directorate.
This is a Career Grade Level 3 / Grade 8 position for an experienced development management planner with a strong track record of independently managing major and strategic planning applications.
The successful candidate will take ownership of their own strategic caseload, rather than simply overseeing or signing off work completed by junior officers. Applications will typically involve 100+ residential units, with current schemes ranging from approximately 150 units to 500–600+ residential units, including major mixed-use and residential developments incorporating a hotel.
Applications will be at different stages, including newly submitted applications following pre-application discussions, outline applications, applications progressing towards Planning Committee and cases requiring completion of Section 106 agreements.
Key Responsibilities
- Independently manage a caseload of complex major and strategic planning applications from submission through to determination.
- Assess large-scale development proposals against planning policy, legislation, guidance and other material considerations.
- Take responsibility for planning cases involving significant residential, mixed-use, regeneration and other strategic developments.
- Provide professional planning advice at pre-application and application stages.
- Prepare clear, accurate and well-evidenced planning reports and recommendations for Planning Committee and delegated decisions.
- Negotiate with developers, planning consultants, architects, agents, landowners and other professional stakeholders.
- Negotiate and progress Section 106 agreements, planning obligations and CIL matters.
- Liaise with internal Council services and external stakeholders to resolve complex planning issues.
- Attend Planning Committee, Quality Review Panels, meetings and site visits where required.
- Deal with Member enquiries and provide professional advice on complex or potentially contentious planning matters.
- Manage consultations and ensure statutory and procedural requirements are met.
- Consider and respond to planning appeals and, where required, contribute to hearings or public inquiries.
- Identify appropriate solutions to complex planning issues while maintaining a strong understanding of planning policy and legislation.
- Provide guidance and professional support to less experienced planning officers where required.
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Essential Experience
- Minimum 4–5 years' relevant development management experience, with around 5 years preferred.
- Strong and demonstrable experience managing major and strategic planning applications.
- Experience working on large-scale developments, ideally involving 100+ residential units and/or significant mixed-use schemes.
- Proven ability to independently manage complex planning cases and take ownership of recommendations.
- Experience dealing with applications through different stages, including pre-application, submission, consultation, committee and determination.
- Strong knowledge of planning legislation, development management procedures and relevant planning policy.
- Experience with Section 106 agreements, planning obligations and CIL.
- Excellent planning report writing and presentation skills.
- Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Confidence dealing with developers, consultants, Members and other professional stakeholders.
- Local authority planning experience is highly desirable.
- London planning or London Borough experience would be advantageous.
- Experience of planning hearings or public inquiries would be beneficial but is not essential.
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Qualifications
- Degree in Planning or a related discipline.
- RTPI-accredited planning degree and/or eligibility for Chartered Membership desirable.
- Relevant post-qualification development management experience.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
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