Planning Officer Career Grade

Job Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham, where your work makes a meaningful difference to our vibrant and diverse communities.

Lewisham is proud of its long history of welcoming people from all over the world and its recognition as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary. As we continue to grow and evolve, we are committed to shaping neighbourhoods that are inclusive, resilient, and well designed.

Introduction

Do you want to be involved in a varied range of work that ranges from award winning residential extensions and developments, work contributing to our ambitious small sites programme and supporting the growth of our high streets.

Then this role is for you – join our high-performing, nationally ‘Gold Rated’ planning team. We are looking for 2x Planning Officers

From Lewisham Town Centre with its major shopping centre and market, Deptford’s nightlife to Blackheath's village atmosphere and the woodlands of Beckenham Place Park, Lewisham is one of London’s most diverse and rapidly evolving areas. We now have a unique opportunity for a forward-thinking town planner to use design‑led densification to help create and shape vibrant, well-designed neighbourhoods where people can truly thrive.

Our newly adopted Local Plan has a vision for the borough to 2040, and we have huge ambition for new housing growth and investment in our places.

As a planner in our area teams, you’ll responsible for processing a wide range of planning applications, providing a valuable opportunity to develop your skills and advance your career in planning. We're seeking motivated and enthusiastic candidates who are passionate about planning and ready to grow and make a difference.

What’s the role?

You will manage the full process for planning and related applications. Working as part of a supportive team, you will be responsible for:

You’ll manage the full process for planning applications, pre-applications, and appeals. Working as part of a team, you’ll be supported by a Team Leader, Principal, and Senior Officers who will provide guidance and mentorship. Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting consultations, site visits, and proposal appraisals.
• Negotiating with applicants and addressing objections on your cases.
• Prepare comprehensive reports with recommendations, including conditions or reasons for refusal.
• Present applications to the planning committee when needed.
• Prepare statements for Written Representation Appeals and support the preparation and presentation of evidence at Public Inquiries and Hearings.

What’s in it for you?

You will gain substantial experience development management across a varied caseload and excellent training and development opportunities.

The council also offers a range of generous benefits, including:

• Local Government Pension Scheme,
• Flexible working,
• Family-friendly policies,
• Season ticket and bicycle loans,
• Subsidised gym memberships, and
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for

You will be a town planner with relevant experience, who has an appreciation of London and national politics and have the ability to work independently, managing a range of competing demands with initiative. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, as the role involves working closely with applicants, residents, consultants and colleagues across the council.

You should bring:

• Good organisational, written and verbal communication and IT skills
• Ability to prioritise and allocate work to meet deadlines.
• Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and consistency in planning recommendations and advice for various customers.
• Research and analytical skills to stay informed and continually expand your planning knowledge, whilst taking account of corporate priorities.

Location

The role is based at Laurence House, Catford, with hybrid working (minimum two days a week in the office, currently Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

• The successful candidate will ideally hold a RTPI accredited undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
• Occasional weeknight working is required for this job (Planning Committees are held in the evening)

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CV’s.

Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact aaron.lau@lewisham.gov.uk

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification

Salary

£42,912 - £45,852 per annum (SO2 - PO1)

The post is a career grade post at S02/P01 with opportunities to be promoted to higher grades via our appraisal process once the probationary period is successfully completed.

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

We are recognised by the Mayor of London with the ‘Good Work Standard’ having ‘Excellent’ status which recognised our commitment to fair working and pay conditions and all-round support offers.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email JobsAndSkills@lewisham.gov.uk and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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