Senior Planning Appeals Officer

Senior Planning Appeals Officer

£40,140 - £43,240 per annum, 37 Hours per week

Permanent

Coleford

Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well-being, and ensuring social equity. We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital.

Are you a skilled and experienced planning professional ready to take on a new challenge?

Forest of Dean District Council is looking for a Senior Planning Appeals Officer to join our Development Management team. In this pivotal role, you will play a key part in upholding the Council’s planning decisions, representing us at appeal hearings, informal hearings, and public inquiries.

About the role…

You’ll be responsible for preparing robust written appeal statements and managing complex planning cases with minimal supervision. You’ll provide expert guidance on planning matters, keep abreast of changing legislation, and offer support and mentoring to other team members.

• Represent the Council at planning appeals, including hearings and public inquiries
• Prepare and submit written appeal statements to set deadlines
• Manage complex, sensitive planning cases independently
• Supervise and mentor planning officers
• Provide professional planning advice and present cases to Planning Committee
• Respond to informal planning enquiries and complaints

You will need…

• A degree in Planning or a related discipline
• Chartered Town Planner qualification (Level 7)
• Eligibility for full MRTPI membership
• Substantial professional experience (5+ years) in planning or a related field
• A proactive, detail-focused approach with excellent communication and organisational skills

Special Conditions…

• This post is designated as politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Politically restricted post holders are restricted from canvassing on behalf of a political party or for a person who is, or seeks to be, a candidate for election to a local authority, the House of Commons, or the European Parliament

For more information about this role please see the Job Description/Person Specification.

What can we do for you…

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
• In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements

Terms and conditions apply.

These are just a handful of the benefits that you can enjoy when you join us!

Your application will not be considered if you have not provided a supporting statement, in addition to your CV.

Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email.

Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years’ employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.