Principal Planning Officer

We’re on the Up!

At a time where Council’s resources are being restricted and budgets reduced we are bucking the trend and growing our Planning Service. West Devon Borough and South Hams District Councils are shared authorities with an exciting, innovative, and forward-looking delivery model. We have an Improvement Plan for our Planning Service fully endorsed by the Councils’ Members and Senior Management team which is delivering and developing our service with performance enhanced, alongside a positive and supportive work force.

We are at the beginning of that journey and there is still work to do and we need a Principal Planner to join our busy and friendly service and help to deliver our ambitions and create an excellent Planning Service. As an experienced Planning Officer, you will have the opportunity alongside your day to day work of planning applications, pre-applications and appeals, to get involved in wider projects across the service, learning and developing both yourself and the service we offer.

As a Principal Planning Officer within Planning (Development Management), you should be qualified to degree level (or equivalent) within a Planning related discipline and be a Member of the RTPI.  You will have previous experience in Development Management with the ability to lead on major and complex pre-applications and planning applications and providing advice and guidance Members. You will also have a small group of senior planning officers to guide and mentor. You will be committed to delivering high quality developments whilst ensuring performance and excellent customer service is maintained at all times. 

In return, we can offer an environment which is supportive, where innovation is sought and efficiency is key along with the following benefits:

• Flexible working options (including remote working)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Staff benefit schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme

For an informal discussion, or for further details about the role please contact

Heads of Development Management Jac Houslander on 01803 861551or via email: jacqueline.houslander@swdevon.gov.uk or Pat Whymer on 01803 861396 or via email: patrick.whymer@swdevon.gov.uk.