Senior Planning Officer

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

We are currently looking to attract an ambitious and confident Planner capable of leading on a wide range of applications.

Chelmsford is the first city in Essex, and its proximity to London ensures continuous development pressures. In addition to the 2000+ planning applications that we receive annually, we are working with partners to assess National Strategic Infrastructure Projects, including powerline and solar projects. The review of Chelmsford’s Local Plan is at an advanced stage with a view to adoption late 2026 and this sets out new proposed sites for strategic and local developments. The Chelmsford Garden Community is a growing development of 10,000 new homes and employment sites delivering new neighbourhoods, schools, parks and rail/bus/cycle connections. A second Garden Community to the East of Chelmsford is also proposed through the review of the Local Plan.

If you have good written and verbal communication skills & excellent attention to detail; if you can work flexibly on a wide range of tasks both independently and as part of a team; if you’d like to be part of bringing forward high quality development schemes to help us continue to deliver our Councillors‘ and residents‘ high expectations then this role is for you.

The successful applicant will have relevant Planning qualifications and eligibility for membership of the RTPI, if not already a member. The postholder will be a relatively experienced individual practiced in working within Development Management and dealing with complex schemes. You will be ambitious for new opportunities, and a team player with a can-do approach to finding solutions.

The successful applicant will be required to work 37 hours per week.

This role currently attracts a Market Rate Supplement of £1250 per annum, paid monthly, this will be reviewed annually.

Please note should sufficient applications be received prior to the closing date, we may close the role for applications early.

Chelmsford City Council is committed to safeguarding vulnerable groups and expects all employees to share this commitment and have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services. The Council's Safer Recruitment process contains pre-employment checks which includes safeguarding training, obtaining references and ensuring compliance with Disclosure and Barring Service process.