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Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council are looking for a Planning Officer / Senior Planning Officer to join our team in Ipswich, Suffolk. You will join us on a full-time, permanent basis working 37 hours per week. The successful candidate will earn a competitive salary of £30,559 - £42,708 per annum (pro rata for part time).

What we are looking for

We are looking for a Planning Officer or Senior Planning Officer (Career Grade role) to join our team in Development Management. To be successful, you will share our values, commitment, and motivation to make a difference for our residents, clients, and communities.

Planning Officer

Grade 4 - £30,559 - £35,235 per annum (pro rata for part time)

Senior Planning Officer

Grade 5 - £36,124 - £42,708* per annum (pro rata for part time) 

*Plus Market Forces Supplement.

About the role

Whether an entry-level planner, or a more experienced Planning Officer seeking a fresh challenge, with opportunities for continued development and progression, you will be motivated to help us positively shape our environment through fostering sustainable growth and the delivery of the right homes and jobs, in the right places. 

A team player with initiative, you will be solutions-focused with an appetite for effective collaboration with our key stakeholders in implementing our spatial vision for the Districts as we deliver our Strategic Joint Local Plan policies and develop our detailed topics, allocations and supplementary guidance to bring our vision for development into reality.

You will be highly attuned to the need to work with our communities as they bring forward neighbourhood plans and look to implement them and deliver on community expectations for growth.

This is a Career Graded role, therefore offering fantastic opportunities to develop your career within planning. 

About you

You will need to demonstrate that you can:

implement development management and planning decision-making, reflecting the nature of the districts and how they function, in accordance with the councils’ strategies and policies for securing sustainable development

pro-actively and proportionately enable the making of clear and timely planning decisions, considering the needs of the community, and holding an awareness of the need to uphold the reputation of both councils at all times through delivering excellent customer service

offer sound pre-application advice for householder and minor development, coordinating responses with technical consultees and referencing national and local planning policies in addition to the Local Validation List

provide expert advice on all planning and associated matters in committee and appeal settings and represent both councils at a parish and town council level on the implementation of spatial planning decision-making and development management.

You will need to have access to a vehicle, and a full, valid UK driving licence.

Benefits of working for us

Great opportunities for learning and development

Generous leave entitlement (equivalent to 26 days a year, increasing to 31 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays)

Competitive local government pension scheme

Wellbeing support programme

Employee assist programme

Health care options

Closing date:?5pm, 17th January 2025

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this Planning Officer / Senior Planning Officer role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts