Planning and Enforcement roles – Somerset Council Opportunities
We are looking for experienced Planning Officers to join the second largest Unitary Authority in the UK.
We currently have a range of opportunities throughout the development management team and within the Enforcement and Appeals team. The Planning officers determine a varied caseload with the Principal Planning Officers responsible for determining the major applications within the area and line management responsibility for a small team.
Enforcement and appeals have been centralised to one team for Somerset and there is currently a vacancy for a Principal Planning Officer to lead the team and vacancies at Senior and Planning Officer level to investigate potential breaches of planning and take appropriate action.
Development Management:
Area Leads – The salary for the two Area Leads is £55,000 per annum which includes a renumeration package of £7,246 per annum for up to 3 years.
Principal planners - The Salary for the Principal Planning Officer role is £50,000 per annum which includes a remuneration package of £3,536 per annum for up to 3 years.
Senior Planners - The Senior Planning Officer role is Grade 9 (£39,186 to £43,421 per annum).
Planning Officers - The Planning Officer role is Grade 10 (£34,834 to £39,186)
Enforcement and Appeals:
The Salary for the Principal Enforcement Planning Officer role is Grade 8, (£50,000 per annum which includes a remuneration package of £3,536 per annum for up to 3 years).
The Senior Planning Enforcement Officer role is Grade 9 (£39,186 to £43,421 per annum).
What will I be doing?
Currently we have a number of Development Management Planning roles and roles within the Enforcement and Appeals team which could bring you variety, the satisfaction of seeing delivery and engaging with the local community, stakeholders, members working to achieve the best outcome for all.
Within Somerset we have a huge breadth of work, and plenty of interesting projects.
These currently include:
1. Local Development Orders
2. Development Consent Orders
3. Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
4. Major residential and Commercial developments
5. Our Emerging Local Plan
6. Enforcement Policy
We also have a successful history of gaining Levelling up and Homes England funding - which means there will be a range of new things to work on in the coming years as we deliver key community facilities, infrastructure and public realm improvements.
All this means that you’ll have the chance to develop your experience and skills with us the range of which will be difficult to match elsewhere.
We’re in the early stages of shaping our service as a new authority and we’re not sitting still. If you relish opportunities to inform, influence and streamline you could be a key part of the evolution of a large planning service. You will need to be in the office 1-2 days per week, for Committee (once a month) and for site visits with the option for homeworking for the rest of the week.
Development Management:
Somerset as the second largest authority is subdivided into 2 main areas. There are 2 Area Leads that would be responsible for oversight of the North and West area teams and East and South area teams including the two area committees within each area and oversight of the major applications. These roles would line manage the Principal Officers in the relevant areas and show clear leadership in service improvement.
As a Principal Officer you would be assessing and determining a range of major applications from Residential, Commercial, Allocated sites and the opportunity to manage Planning Performance Agreements on strategic sites to provide for the 18,000 homes allocated in the Local Plan. As Principal Officer you would also manage a small team of Planners and Senior Planners (3-5 people) providing support through one to ones and team meetings.
Day to day, as a Senior Planning Officer you would be assessing and determining a range of minor/major planning applications including change of use, residential and commercial development working pro-actively, negotiating to ensure the highest quality outcome. You would be working within one of the small area teams within Somerset, supported by other Seniors and Principals, and engage with the public and elected members.
As a Planning Officer you would carry a caseload of minor/other and householder applications working pro-actively, negotiating to ensure the highest quality outcome. You would be working within one of the small area teams within Somerset, supported by other Planning Officers, Seniors and Principals, and engage with the public and elected members.
Enforcement and Appeals:
As a Principal Officer you would manage the area enforcement officers across the Somerset area and be responsible for overseeing Enforcement Action. You would support the Senior and Enforcement Planning officers in assessing breaches of planning control and determining appropriate action in accordance with the Somerset Enforcement Policy. You would also need to demonstrate good professional and interpersonal skills engaging with the public and elected members.
Day to day, as a Senior Enforcement Planning Officer you would be responding to and assessing breaches of planning control, carrying a caseload, working pro-actively, negotiating to ensure the appropriate outcomes and taking action where necessary. You would be supported by the Principal Enforcement Planning Officer and by other Seniors. You would also engage with the public and elected members.
What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?
We are looking for qualified planners and enforcement officers, with experience of determining and negotiating on complex caseloads within a Local Authority environment. You would need to be or be eligible to become a Chartered Planner; if you are not already Chartered, this will be encouraged for your development once in the role.
For the Principal roles, it would be ideal if you had some management experience but if you’re a Senior Planner or Enforcement Officer and feel ready to step up, we’ll support and help develop you into a Principal role.
What’s in it for me?
We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset. We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management and the opportunity for a wealth of CPD and peer support with a significant number of planners in the wider Authority.
We also have some fantastic employee benefits available including the below:
1. We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
2. Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
3. Staff discounts in gyms.
4. Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
5. Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
6. A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
7. My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.
Anything else I should know?
If you would like an informal chat about the Development Management roles you can contact Gary Collins via e mail at garycollins@somerset.gov.uk or Thomas Jones at Thomas.Jones1@somerset.gov.uk.
For the Enforcement roles you can contact Dawn deVries via email at dawn.devries@somerset.gov.uk.
Closing date: 16th March 2025.
Time frames we will aim to shortlist by Monday 17th of March 2025.
Interview dates 26th, 27th, 28th March 2025.
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