Senior Planner – Development Management

Senior Planner – Development Management 
£33,909 - £38,385 per annum 

ABOUT US

Newham will offer you a unique and exciting working environment within a diverse and growing East London Borough which is focussed on optimising development opportunities in ways that benefit existing and new communities delivering good growth.

Over the last few years, the Council has adopted a number of key corporate strategies – these include a declaration of climate emergency, underpinned by the objective to make the London Borough of Newham carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050; a Covid Recovery Plan focusing on how the Council can help support residents and businesses to not just recover from Covid-19 but build a stronger Newham for the future; and Community Wealth Building: an inclusive economic approach that aims to address poverty in the borough as well ensure that investment coming into Newham benefits all residents.

Alongside these corporate priorities, the Planning Service is involved in the delivery of c.2800 new homes targeted per year, 31 Strategic Sites, an Enterprise Zone, emerging Opportunity Area Planning Framework, large scale and distinctive employment-generating schemes, and major infrastructure projects underway. The Mayor of London’s City Hall has also recently relocated to Newham.

Newham offers many career-defining opportunities to work at pace, at scale, and on innovative responses to complex issues. We seek to optimise development opportunities in ways that benefit existing and new communities delivering good growth.

We are evolving in how we deliver services to our residents and businesses, and we benefit from a hybrid approach to working (ie a mix of office based and home working).

Newham has a flexible working policy and we are open to considering proposals as to the exact pattern of work, such that hours can be arranged around you and your family's needs, as well as our business needs.

ABOUT THE JOB

The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of an efficient and effective Development Management service for the borough, including engagement with developers and other key stakeholders in enabling the delivery of quality developments within a robust planning policy framework.

You will be responsible for managing a varied caseload of more complex planning applications, pre-applications requests and appeals. As a Senior Planner in Development Management, you will take ownership of the full application process from pre application discussions, through the application process presenting at committee where applicable, negotiating section 106 obligations, undertaking conditions discharge and defending the Council at appeals in the event of refusals.

We are looking for Planners with experience of a variety of planning applications and appeals and a proactive and collaborative approach to dealing with new development to join our high performing team.

This is a key role in the Planning Team and you will play an integral role in driving forward high quality development within the borough.

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for individuals with in-depth planning knowledge and extensive Development Management experience within a high performing Local Planning Authority. You should be self motivated, enthusiastic, able to work as part of a team and have the ability to work at pace and under pressure in a positive and solutions led manner whilst supporting others in their own work.

You should be able to independently and effectively manage tasks and responsibilities to drive forward projects individually and as part of a team; successfully negotiate outcomes with our residents and developers and be confident in providing technical and procedural advice.

You will be confident in tackling new challenges and flexible in your approach to your work to adapt and meet the needs of the service.

Please ensure you refer to the person specification section of the Job description for full understanding of the expectations for the role as Senior Planner (PO1-PO2) and the below information in respect of what is required as part of your application.

Please note that the qualifications section of the person specification will be used as a minimum short-listing criteria.

APPLYING FOR THIS ROLE

Newham Council is committed to practicing fairness and equity in its recruitment process. One way in which the Council supports this practice is by using ‘name-anonymised’ recruitment which means that our recruiting managers only have access to the information you have submitted in support of your application until they make a decision to call you for interview/selection. When submitting a CV and/or supporting statement, please ensure that you remove or redact any personal information before submitting the documents.

Please submit your application via the online portal, including providing details of your education, qualifications and work history. All applications must be accompanied by a supporting statement which outlines how you meet the requirements of the person specification within the job description. Your application needs to demonstrate clearly and concisely how you meet each of the criteria. Please give specific examples wherever possible. If you do not address these criteria fully, or if we do not consider that you meet them, you will not be shortlisted. Applications that are not accompanied by the required supporting statement will not be accepted. CVs will not suffice.

If you wish to informally discuss the role itself, please contact Hannah Richardson on hannah.richardson@newham.gov.uk or 020 3373 0456

Closing date: 9th October 2022

Please view Senior Planner Job Description

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